Page 33 - Sept 2017 Food Business

INTERVIEW 31

provides contractual information in foreign countries. Through
its Foreign Direct Investment Unit, ITA also facilitates the estab-
lishment and the development of foreign companies in Italy.

Could you share trade figures between Italy-UAE in
food and agriculture sectors?
In 2016 the UAE was the most important country in the
MENA Region for Italy's agriculture and F&B exports. Total
Italian exports to the UAE amounted to 317 million euro. In
the last ten years, Italian sales to the UAE almost quadrupled,
given the strong demand from residents and tourists alike for
quality and healthy food.

Could you explain more about your participation
at the Speciality Food Festival 2017?
ITA organizes the Italian pavilion, where more than 26
exhibitors will showcase their premium quality products. In
addition to the exhibitor stands, ITA will be hosting a
“Breakfast made in Italy” corner devoted to Italian products
and appliances.
A series of promotional activities dedicated to Italian
Organic Products, or PDO (Protected Designation of Origin -
DOP in Italy) and PGI (Protected Geographical Indication - IGP
in Italy), will be held during the fair to raise awareness about
EU food protection labels certifying origin, quality and unique- Gianpaolo Bruno
ness of products. Informative seminars will be offered every With 25 years of work experience at the Italian Trade
day, followed by live cooking and tasting sessions conducted Agency (ITA), he currently holds the position of Trade
by renowned chefs from famous restaurants in Dubai. Commissioner to the UAE, Oman and Pakistan.
Previously he was Director for Strategic Planning,
Economic Research, Overseas Offices and interim Director
The whole program is available on our website: of ITA's IT Services, directly reporting to the CEO.
www.eventsitadubai.com He also coordinated a “startup team” in charge of sup-
porting international business activities of Italian innova-
tive startup companies and their eco-systems.
He was member of the OECD Committee for
Investment, Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIIE) and
member of the OECD Trade Committee.
Before then, he was Trade Commissioner for sub-
Saharan Africa at the ITA's Johannesburg Office, South
Africa and previously Director of the Economic
Research Division at the ITA.
He served as an Advisor to the Executive Director
for Italy, Portugal, Greece, Malta, Albania and San
Marino at the World Bank Group in Washington D.C.
He holds a M.A. in Economics at LUISS University in
Rome, a Master Degree in Public Administration and a
Master Degree in IT Governance and Compliance.
He was awarded a scholarship as Research
Associate in Public Policy at the Graduate School of
Public Policy, University of California at Berkeley.
He is a Certified Public Accountant in Italy.
He was Adjunct Professor in International Economics
at the University of Milan, Bicocca.

SEPTEMBER 2017 FOOD BUSINESS GULF & MIDDLE EAST