Italy eyes deeper tech, investment ties with textile sector

Italian Ambassador to Bangladesh Antonio Alessandro said Italy remains keen to strengthen collaboration with Bangladesh’s textile industry through advanced technologies and industrial partnerships.

He made the remarks at a workshop organised by the Chittagong Chamber of Commerce & Industry (CCCI) in the port city  on Thursday, according to a press release.

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The workshop, titled “Italian Textile Technologies with B2B Meetings”, brought together representatives of the Italian Trade Agency (ITA), the Association of Italian Textile Machinery Manufacturers (ACIMIT), 11 leading Italian textile machinery manufacturers, and prominent Bangladeshi textile and apparel entrepreneurs.

The ambassador said bilateral trade between Bangladesh and Italy exceeds €2 billion, with Italy importing around €1.6 billion worth of products from Bangladesh. He noted that Italian companies have been trusted partners in the development of Bangladesh’s garment industry for more than four decades.

Highlighting Bangladesh’s progress in compliance, workplace safety and technology adoption, Alessandro said future competitiveness would depend on product diversification, advanced machinery, innovative fabrics and sustainable manufacturing.

Italian companies, he added, are ready to support these goals with modern technologies and innovative solutions.

Describing Chattogram as one of Bangladesh’s leading economic hubs, the ambassador encouraged greater engagement between Italian and Bangladeshi businesses, saying the current environment offers excellent opportunities for investment and long-term partnerships.

CCCI President Mohammad Amirul Haque said Chattogram’s expanding economic zones, free trade zones and strategic location are creating new opportunities for international investment.

He invited Italian companies to become long-term partners in Bangladesh’s industrial growth through investment and technology transfer in the textile, leather, steel and other manufacturing sectors.

Mirza Salman Ispahani, honorary consul of Italy and chairman of the Ispahani Group, said demand for Italian textile machinery remains strong in Bangladesh.

He said B2B engagements such as the workshop provide an effective platform for exchanging technical knowledge, sharing innovation and strengthening long-term business relationships between Italian and Bangladeshi companies.