Exports: Unioncamere joins the Maeci steering group

According to Tajani, the initiative ‘strengthens a network that enables us to continue working on market diversification and which has already led to strong growth in exports despite two wars on Europe’s borders and a third trade war’.

Unioncamere, as the body responsible for representing and coordinating the chamber of commerce system, serves as a vital link with the national business community.

The chamber of commerce system comprises around 60 regional chambers of commerce, with some 6 million businesses registered in the national business registers.

The Agreement establishes a stable framework for cooperation between the Parties in the key areas supporting the internationalisation of businesses. In particular, it provides that Unioncamere shall make available to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI) its knowledge of the national production system and the export potential of the various regions, shall promote opportunities for internationalisation amongst businesses, and shall ensure the coordination of activities carried out by the chamber of commerce system, including through Promos Italia and the network of Italian Chambers of Commerce Abroad.

For its part, the Ministry of Education, Universities and Research (MAECI) is committed to making its internationalisation tools and programmes available to the chamber of commerce system and to involving Unioncamere in institutional and economic missions and in programmes aimed at businesses.

“We have an ambitious target,” commented Matteo Zoppas, President of ICE – Italian Trade Agency, “which is to reach 700 billion in exports. We must all work together to achieve this whilst complying with the regulations governing responsibilities and territorial jurisdiction in overseas promotion. When I speak of the ‘extended national system’, I am referring to all the stakeholders who can influence export growth. Alongside the organisations already involved – such as ICE, SACE, SIMEST and CDP – and the ministries, the chambers of commerce, which are very well connected to the Italian business community, are key partners. This formalises a connection that, in practice, already exists. Together with the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Chicago, we have created Vinitaly USA and, in a short space of time, have turned it into one of the leading wine events in the United States.’

“The agreement,” added Mario Pozza, President of Assocamerestero, “represents an important step towards making the ‘Sistema Italia’ initiative even more effective and coordinated on international markets. Its strength lies in its ability to combine the expertise and business relationships of the Italian Chambers of Commerce with the market knowledge, connections and international presence of the network coordinated by Assocamerestero.”

In 2025, Assocamerestero, through its 86 Italian Chambers of Commerce Abroad operating in 64 countries and 160 support centres, generated around 300,000 business contacts and provided 67,000 services to Italian companies, a 12 per cent increase compared with 2024.

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