Italians exploit opening

By DANIEL RIORDAN

The summer of Italian love has not ended with the America's Cup.

Yesterday, the Sheraton Hotel in Auckland was teeming with about 200 Kiwi businesspeople keen to find out more about import-export opportunities with their Italian counterparts.

The occasion was "Italia System" - or the Italian Way Through International Business.

In attendance were some of the heavy hitters of Italian trade in this part of the world, including the trade commissioners to Australia and New Zealand and the ambassador to New Zealand.

But the most important person may have been the Italian chef imported temporarily to ensure Kiwi guests sampled the best of Italy between working sessions.

New Zealand's exports to Italy are estimated to be worth $400 million a year.

Keynote speaker Gianfredo Comazzi said though the America's Cup had focused Italy's attention on New Zealand, the immediate benefits were more likely to be in tourism than in exports.

Italian exporters were also spurred in part by the growing European Union.

If most of Europe suddenly became your backyard, even far-flung markets like New Zealand received greater attention.

"I see opportunities both ways," said Mr Comazzi. "Trade is a two-way street."

He is president of Federexport (the Federation of Export Consortia), which has 130 exporters representing 5000 enterprises.

Federexport members account for 7 per cent of Italy's exports, worth $28 billion.

Italy has even more small and medium-sized businesses - relative to the total business pie - than New Zealand. Most are highly specialised exporters and typically members of groups that offer them economies of scale.

Federexport sits at the apex of the pyramid, its role roughly similar to the Trade Development Board here.