Italian fashion making moves on the Middle East

Notes and media contacts

About Italian Trade Commission
The Italian Institute for Foreign Trade (I.C.E.), established in 1926, is the governmental agency whose task is the promotion and development of trade and industrial co-operation between Italy and the rest of the world, thereby encouraging the internationalization of Italian companies, in particular Small and Medium sized Enterprises (SMEs), and their taking root in foreign markets. I.C.E. gathers information via continuous monitoring of overseas markets, commercial trends and investments, carried out by its network of offices abroad. To enable simple and immediate access to data, I.C.E. information resource is available on line at www.italtrade.com.

I.C.E. assumes the role of institutional guide to market approach strategies by responding to the numerous requirements of individual companies, both Italian and foreign. Through participation in international exhibitions, trade missions, workshops and other initiatives from its annual Promotional Programme, I.C.E. intensifies business opportunities and reinforces the image of 'Made in Italy' brand all around the world. Moreover, I.C.E. enters into agreements with the Italian Regional Governments, aiming at facilitating the process of internationalization of the crafts sector, of SMEs and other specific manufacturing sectors.

About Alta Roma
Alta Roma's objective is not only to provide opportunities and foster relationships between the traditional couture of famous Italian designers and the creativity of new, creative up-and-coming designers but also to encourage the growth of the fashion sector through the promotion of training, intended not only as a means of safeguarding the artisan quality and tradition of 'Made-in-Italy' fashion but also as the driving force of innovation, creativity and technology. Within the framework of 'Made-in-Italy' fashion, Alta Roma proposes a new language capable of conveying the dual nature of Rome and Lazio, i.e. an international stage for all those involved in the sector as well as a new laboratory for industry and creativity of high quality fashion designed to further experimentation and give greater visibility not only to some of the best-known names in Roman design but also to up-and-coming talents both on the Italian and international scene.

Lazio Regional Government

Italy's model of regional government, established by the Constitution of 1948, divides the country into 15 ordinary and 5 'special' regions. The regions with ordinary status, like Lazio, have concurrent legislative powers and, in some cases, executive powers only.
Italian regions are ruled by a regional council and an executive committee chaired by a president. Since 1999, regional presidents are directly elected by universal suffrage. The electoral system is based on a combination of proportional representation and majority, in order to encourage the creation of majority governments.

Since 2005, the Region of Lazio is ruled by Piero Marrazzo (center-left coalition), together with 16 superintendents (members of regional government), who have attributions in different fields like health, agriculture, social affairs, etc.

The region is divided into 5 provinces, Latina, Frosinone, Rieti, Rome and Viterbo and 378 municipalities. Rome is the largest and most populated province, as it includes the city of Rome, regional capital and capital of Italy.
The policies for the internationalization of Lazio aim at promoting region's economic strengths at world level; the ultimate goal is to foster the economic, social and cultural growth of local trade and industry overseas.
Therefore, the Region of Lazio develops targeted actions in order to set and improve relations with overseas institutions and other relevant economic players at local level, while at the same time fostering and increasing cooperation.

Sviluppo Lazio Company Profile

Sviluppo Lazio, Lazio's regional development agency, was founded in 1999 and
charged with the task of implementing the region's the economic and territorial
agendas. In a region so rich with potential, Sviluppo Lazio's primary mission is to assist in
the development of regional infrastructures, manufacturing businesses, and to increase employment.

The agency accomplishes this mission in many ways: by promoting enterprise motivated
ideology; by sustaining territorial development programs; by participating in infrastructural
investment projects and by fostering partnerships between public and private entities.
In order to contribute to the region's growth and bolster the manufacturing industry, Sviluppo Lazio focuses on acquiring and optimizing community, national, and private financial
funds to promote international commerce and the internationalisation of the regional
economic system and to attract foreign investors to the region. Furthermore, Sviluppo
Lazio assists local government administrations in project financing analyses and in drafting of
financial feasibility plans. The agency also provides assistance to regional and local agencies in carrying out such plans. In recent years, Sviluppo Lazio has contributed to the socio-economic growth of the region by conducting studies, research, and analyses of the region and its productive
'fabric.'

Sviluppo Lazio's corporate structure is rather unique: the Region of Lazio is the majority
shareholder in the agency, with local chambers of commerce, various credit and financial institutions, and trade associations comprising the remainder of the shareholders.

For further information, please contact:
Sonali Rekhi
U Communicate PR & Event Management
Tel: +971 4 2831661
Fax: +971 4 2831662