I participated in the Annual International Meeting of Confprofessioni e Aprinternational: an important discussion between professionals, institutions, and businesses on internationalization, global markets, and concrete opportunities for Italian companies.
After Deputy Prime Minister and Minister Antonio Tajani’s speech on the Italian Export Plan, I offered my perspective: that of those who represent Italians around the world, but also that of those who experience internationalization every day, in markets, in businesses, and in real competition.
Italy has extraordinary strength: thousands of entrepreneurs, professionals and companies who bring quality, creativity, expertise and credibility to the world every day. They are Italians who build value, open markets, create jobs, and honor our country.
But this strength is not enough to tell. It must be recognized, protected and put into system.
The real qualitative leap is to stop considering Italians abroad as a periphery of the Italian system and start treating them as one of its most important strategic levers.
There are two decisive nodes.
The first is Italian Sounding. Too often, those who truly internationalize Italian businesses —investing, producing, opening markets, creating jobs, and bringing real value to our country— are confused with those who copy our products, use names, colors, symbols, or labels reminiscent of Italy, and attempt to sell a false sense of Italianness around the world.
This distinction is fundamental. Because defending #MadeinItaly isn’t just about protecting a brand: it’s about defending real businesses, real entrepreneurs, real work, and real Italian quality. Those who bring Italy into the world must be supported. Those who use Italy as a commercial disguise must be stopped.
The second issue is bureaucracy. The Italian enterprises that compete in the world do not need obstacles, modules and slowness. They need institutions that are quick, competent, and present. This is why I consider the reform process of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs called for by Minister Tajani important: a transformation that will take time, but which can finally bring the public sector closer to those who produce, export, and represent Italy worldwide.
The challenge is not just to help Italian businesses go abroad.
The real challenge is to build a global Italy system, capable of protecting those who create value, rewarding those who innovate, and making Italy stronger in international markets.
It’s not a slogan.
It is a political, economic and national responsibility
