Italy has shown interest in importing Indian leather products after a delegation of Indian businessmen made presentations in cities of Florence, Pisa, Lucca, Arezzo, Prato, Grosseto and Siena. And now the West Bengal government are sending a delegation of its officials and industry representatives to the proposed 'Asia Week' exposition to be held at Milan in September to hard sell the prospects of doing business here.
The 'Asia Week' programme would be held from September 26 to October 5 and include participation by businesses from China, Singapore , Hong Kong and Thailand. And with Milan Fashion Week expected to be held around the same time, it is being predicted a large turnout will be attending ‘Asia Week.’
State commerce and industries minister Nirupam Sen said the composition of the Bengal delegation to Italy would be finalised in the next 10-15 days. It will comprise those companies with the potential to export to Italy, such as those in the leather and jewellery industry.
He was speaking on the sidelines of a programme organised jointly by the Indian Chamber of Commerce and Indo-Italian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The prospects of bilateral co-operation between
Italy and West Bengal went up several notches after state chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee led a business delegation to several Italian cities last year. He said: "West Bengal is now clearly appearing on the map of Italian businessmen. Our collaborations are advancing in a big way within the leather industry, and we are expecting an Italian leather industry delegation to come here soon.”
Sources said there was a possibility that some companies operating at Santa Croce sull'Arno could move to the Calcutta Leather Complex, which is due to open at the start of July, since their existing markets were getting saturated.
