On January 13, 2026, an Uzbekistan Country Presentation was held at the Chamber of Deputies, at Palazzo di San Macuto, organized by CIUZ in collaboration with Unioncamere. The event brought together institutional, diplomatic, and business representatives to provide participants with an overview of Uzbekistan’s economic opportunities, with a particular focus on the agrifood sector.
The agricultural sector remains one of the pillars of the country’s economy, currently accounting for around 20% of GDP. Thanks to vast arable land and favorable agro-climatic conditions, the sector continues to grow, with agricultural and agro-industrial products offering significant export and development potential. Trade data between Italy and Uzbekistan show strong figures in the agrifood sector, both in imports (such as dried fruit) and exports (machinery and technologies for the agrifood industry).
The event opened with welcome remarks by Guido De Sanctis, Italian Ambassador to Tashkent, and Abat Fayzullaev, Uzbek Ambassador to Rome. Among the high-level speakers, particular attention was drawn to the address by Minister of Agriculture Francesco Lollobrigida, who announced an upcoming ministerial mission to Tashkent scheduled for late March, and by his Uzbek counterpart, Minister Abdurakhmonov. Institutional remarks were concluded by Mauro Battocchi (Director General, MAECI), Matteo Zoppas (President of ICE), and Andrea Prete (President of Unioncamere).
Following an insightful overview of EU–Uzbekistan relations by Senator Marco Scurria (Standing Committee on European Union Policies), a panel discussion focused on support for the internationalization of Italian companies, with contributions from Regina Corradini D’Arienzo (SIMEST), Giuseppe Tripoli (Unioncamere), Paolo Lombardo (Cassa Depositi e Prestiti), and Paola Valerio (SACE).
Subsequently, Giorgio Veronesi (CIUZ), Giovanni Rossi (Promos), and Marco Farci (Advisor to the Minister of Agriculture of Uzbekistan) presented the main opportunities for Italian companies in Uzbekistan, highlighting the most relevant subsectors as well as regulatory, economic, and cultural factors that can facilitate market entry.
The final panel was dedicated to the business perspective and featured contributions from Federico Ghella (ANCE) and Marco Salvi (FRUITIMPRESE), along with three case studies from CIUZ members Toscana Nastri, Cotonella, and Arsenale, presented respectively by Dario Barducci, Renato Spagnolo, and Fabio Borghese. The companies’ on-the-ground experiences—diverse in duration, sector, and size—proved particularly valuable in understanding both the advantages and the challenges of operating in the country. The event concluded with remarks by Vittorio de Pedys, President of SIMEST, who summarized the key takeaways of this outstanding initiative.
We would like to thank all the speakers whose valuable contributions helped promote economic cooperation between Italy and Uzbekistan, providing participants with a comprehensive and well-structured overview of the topic. Special thanks go to Avv. Valentina Milani for expertly moderating the event, to Marco Farci, CIUZ Vice President for Institutional Relations, and to Samantha Rampini of the CIUZ Secretariat for their support in organizing the initiative. Our thanks also extend to Unioncamere, of which CIUZ has been a member for 20 years, and to all those who attended the Uzbekistan Country Presentation and followed the event with great interest.
https://www.italpress.com/tra-italia-uzbekistan-opportunita-di-crescita-per-interscambio/
For additional information, please contact CIUZ’s secretariat at the following address:
Samantha Rampini
Chamber of Commerce Italy-Uzbekistan
Via Monte Rosa, 93
20149 Milano
cell. +39 349 8847924