Carlo Ferro, President of the Italian Trade Agency (ICE-ITA), told The Japan Times in early March that he was thrilled at the opportunity to attend Foodex Japan 2019, Asia's largest food and beverage trade show and now in its 44th year of operation, as one of his first overseas engagements since stepping into the role on Jan. 7.

Almost 15,000 Italian companies are said to export to Japan, and the number of jobs in Italy that EU exports to Japan help support is said to be almost 89,000. Japan comes in 12th place for Italian food and beverage exports, and third among non-EU countries, according to ICE-ITA figures for 2017-2018.

Ferro said the purpose of his visit to Foodex Japan was multifaceted. Citing figures of $11 billion in exports to Japan, he said through visiting the event, he hoped to capitalize on the momentum granted by the recent signing of the economic partnership agreement (EPA) between the European Union and Japan on Feb. 1, an act "which could only expand on the success of countries' commercial relationship." Ferro also wanted to give general recognition and thanks to the Japanese market, noting that Italian exports to the country grew 8 percent in 2018.