TRIESTE – “I would like to announce in this Chamber that, in agreement with the Prime Minister, I have decided to appoint Ambassador Francesco Maria Talò as Italy’s special envoy for IMEC. I intend to instruct him to focus not only on the political aspects but also on strengthening exports along the Indo-Mediterranean route of the Cotton Road.”
These were the words of Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, speaking yesterday in the Chamber of Deputies in response to a question (submitted by a Lega MP) regarding Italy’s participation in the development of the IMEC infrastructure corridor (India-Middle East-Europe Corridor), aimed at boosting trade between the United States, Europe, and India.
This appointment has been strongly advocated by the business community linked to the Port of Trieste, which is positioning itself as a key gateway to Central and especially Eastern Europe, in support of the emerging — and still largely unbuilt — connections. It is no coincidence that this was precisely the topic discussed on Tuesday evening at the conference organized by the Propeller Club of Trieste, where the need for a government “spokesperson” for IMEC was also emphasized by researchers attending the event.
Local stakeholders, led by Francesco Parisi, have already taken steps to promote the initiative, which stems from a memorandum of understanding signed in 2023. “Trieste Summit” itself includes Francesco Talò among its members, confirming the strong commitment of the association.
Describing the economic and logistics corridor that will connect Italy and India via the Middle East, Minister Tajani referred to it as “… a true Indo-Mediterranean bridge toward the Pacific,” adding that he will discuss it with his Indian counterparts next week, during a mission to New Delhi to deepen both political and economic partnership with India.
Tajani also expressed his intention to bring businesses together in a forum for entrepreneurial, scientific, and technological dialogue. “The Cotton Road,” he added — still using a label many wish to replace — “could generate major benefits for our country, for businesses, for the port system — I’m thinking of Trieste, a central hub of this logistics corridor, where I was just last week — and for our economic and geopolitical outreach as a strategic crossroads in the Mediterranean.”
