Italy and Bangladesh enjoy an excellent bilateral relation that initiated immediate after our independence in 1971. Italy recognized Bangladesh on 12 February 1972 as one of the first few countries in the world. Diplomatic relations between Bangladesh and Italy was established soon after. In 1974, Italy was one of the countries that sponsored the admission of Bangladesh to the United Nations. The bilateral relationship between the two countries is characterized by multifaceted areas of cooperation including, among others, an ever-growing people to people contacts, trade and investment, convergence of views on major international issues. Whenever Bangladesh has sought Italy’s support, Italy has exhibited understanding for Bangladesh’s position on various issues in the international arena. The Italian government was also instrumental in influencing decision to endorse setting up of an International Study Group (ISG) on jute, which was vital to continue international cooperation and support to promote Jute, the Golden Fibre of Bangladesh. Italy, since the beginning of the Rohingya influx to Bangladesh, has been strongly supporting Bangladesh and promoting the rightful solution of the crisis. Both Bangladesh and Italy maintain resident diplomatic representations at the Ambassadorial level to each other’s capital. To address consular issues of a large number of Bangladesh expatriates living in the Northern part of Italy as well as to enhance trade and cultural relations, Bangladesh opened a Consulate General in Milan on 05 May 2011. Due to the approach by the Hon’ble Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and following her visit to Rome in February 2020, the Italian Government has included Bangladesh in the “Decreto Flussi”, Italy migration flow annual decree. During the visit, separate business meetings were organized for the Hon’ble Prime Minister with the CEOs of the seven big Italian companies including Eni, Leonardo, Fincantieri, Intermarine, Iveco, where they expressed their strong interests for investment and to create local partnership to foster the transfer of know-how in Bangladesh.
Ambassador of Italy to Bangladesh HE Enrico NUNZIATA arrived in Bangladesh in December 2019. After receiving his degree in Political Science from Eastern University Institute in Naples in 1993, Ambassador Nunziata began his diplomatic career in September, 1996. After performing in various diplomatic positions in different stations, including as Consul General in Moscow, Ambassador Enrico served as Ambassador in Chisinau from 2012 till 2017. Before getting appointed as the Ambassador to Bangladesh, he was the Head of Office V at the Directorate General for Italians abroad and migration policies from 28th of August, 2017.
One of the main recognition during his diplomatic career is being awarded with the title of Knight of the Italian Republic (Ordine al Merito) in 2006.
We had a friendly chat with Ambassador Enrico at his resident recently. Here are some high points of the conversation we would like to share with our readers.
Diplomatic Spouses: Bangladesh is celebrating 50th Anniversary of its Independence. Would you please say a few words on this great occasion?
Ambassador Nunziata: I should say this golden moment of Golden Jubilee of Bangladesh is very important for the Country which has known a tremendous economic growth . It’s an important achievement fruit of years of hard work, specially of the last decade of engagement of the country and the people with the aim to reach the Sonar Bangla final objective.
The country has changed so much in the last decade. I myself witnessed a lot of changes after I arrived. Withstanding COVID, your country is going ahead which is also admirable. Your government, people in general from all steps and from different administrations made it possible with a strong motivation and firm commitment. Their restless efforts to reach the SDGs and all the development goals, at the same time the development of the infrastructures, I observe in all sectors. This willing to changing the situation of Bangladesh to arrive to the higher level in all classifications, ranks and spheres really are commendable. And there is a fact that the country’s constant and fast growth is because of the further engagement of the people.
One thing I must say is that the people of Bangladesh are very industrious. So, the Golden Jubilee celebration is a result and the achievement of the hard work of the people of the country in the last fifty years. Also, a country, after the War of Liberation, fifty years back, starting with nothing or a very little resources, reaching to this point, is an economic miracle. I should say it’s a fruitful result of the people’s dedication and the tireless work of the government in last decade.
So, it’s a very significant date and I am happy to be present during the great moments of celebration. Also, I should say, the values of the Liberation War and the values of Bangabandhu are the bones of this country and that will take you further.
Diplomatic Spouses: Do you think 50 years span of time is too long or too short to achieve such result?
Ambassador Nunziata: With no comparison, after the WWII, the Europe was also a war torn, devastated territory and it took us more than 20 years to bring the region in a developed shape. I can see the same willingness and urge for a radical change in the people of your country also. For a country to develop and make presentable and capable of being demandable to the world, 50 years is not too long or even too short period of time. It took a series of efforts to come up to this mark. The significant development of Bangladesh has come in the last decade or so. The continuous efforts and determination of the people brought you up to this point.
Diplomatic Spouses: Could you please tell us something on the present Bangladesh-Italy bilateral relation?
Ambassador Nunziata: Italy is one of the first few countries that recognized the independence of Bangladesh back in 1972. So, we maintain a friendly relationship ever since. In the past, we had much more development cooperation, being engaged with our cooperation agency in some infrastructure and many other sectors of development. With the changed economical condition of Bangladesh, we have changed that to an economic partnership relation. We want to invest more in some economic sectors in the country, particularly in the energy sector and ship building sector, not only in the traditional sectors like Ready Made Garments or so. Many Italian clothing brands are making their products in Bangladesh already.
As you know we import goods from Bangladesh more that we export to your country. In 2019, our commercial exchange volume was 2 billion 400 million US Dollar. For pandemic, the amount was lesser but we are expecting to reach to the same level from this year onwards and increase the volume in the future.
We export mainly machineries for textile, leather and garment sectors to Bangladesh. We are keen to explore new sectors as well, like energy and defense procurement sectors. Also to mention we have a very great resource in common. More than 5000 Bangladeshis are working in the ship building sector if Italy. So, this a huge potential human resource we can use for the further development in this sector. There are some talks going on this issue with major Italian company in this sector. As you know we have already invested in the garment sector with some factories that are owned by Italian companies.
Diplomatic Spouses: Could you please tell us something on the “Decreto Flussi”, the agreement between Bangladesh and Italy which was signed in 2020? Could you explain what are there in the deal and how is it working?
Ambassador Nunziata: Okay, this is an important area which is playing a big role in strengthening our bilateral relations. Through the Decreto Flussi, the Italian government issues work permits for seasonal and non-seasonal workers.
I should say, one of the main sectors we are cooperating with Bangladesh is in immigration. As you know in Italy, we host the largest community of immigrants in the European Union, and of course Bangladeshi nationals are more in Italy than in the other EU countries at this moment.
The number of documented Bangladeshis is more than 150 thousand and this number increases year by year. In last three years, we issued almost 20,000 visas for family reunion. So, that will make 1,70,000 immigrants altogether by now.
Under the new agreement, which was signed in 2020, Bangladesh is again on the list of countries that can benefit of the visa quotas. Also, there is a new immigration flow visa decree declared in 2021 under which there will be more entries for work reasons this year. We expect to receive more people than we did last year. In last two years the flow was slow, you know because of COVID restrictions, the movement of people was controlled. This year more immigrants will arrive in Italy for sure. You see flow of migration from other countries to Italy will continue as we are increasing legal pathways to encourage legal entry stemming irregular attempts.
Good news is, this year the targeted number of people to provide work immigration status from other countries increased to 69,700. Out of this, 42,000 visas are for particularly recruitment of the seasonal work. This is fresh quota not including the family reunion visas. They will work in agriculture, tourism and other sectors.
This is a deliverable of the visit of honorable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to Italy in 2020 and a good example of the bilateral cooperation in our two countries in immigration field. This will enable a legal way to reach Europe which is the dream of many Bangladeshi nationals.
Diplomatic Spouses: To your opinion, are Bangladeshis living in Italy an asset or burden for Italy? What other ways Bangladeshis can go and settle in your country?
Ambassador Nunziata: Bangladeshi immigrants are absolutely an asset for Italy. They are very integrated. The migration from Bangladesh started in the 80s and 90s. Those who went to Italy during those time, many of them are now Italian citizens. They have gained rights to move to other European countries as Italian and do job or business. Many of them are in UK living and working or opened trades in UK as well. This is the positive impact of mobility.
Italy has a demographic deficit. Our native population is getting older and older and on the other hand there is a high life expectancy. That’s why we need to count also on legal migration and qualified workforce. So, we expect people use legal pathways to come to Italy and to settle down, help themselves, their families and put positive input in our economy. Bangladeshi immigrants choosing legal avenues to come to Italy are doing that with positive benefits for both Countries.
Italy has mobility agreement with different countries to intake migrants based on their skills and education. At the same time Italy offers opportunity for foreign students, for self-employment, for establishing start-up business and for investors who can receive long stay permits.
I would like to give this important message to the people of Bangladesh through your magazine that no one should ever try to reach Europe through adventurous journey taking risk of their lives while they can use these legal channels. The economy of Bangladesh is good, there are many job opportunities here in Bangladesh and also there are legal ways to go and settle in Italy and other European countries, take whichever you like best. It is not worthy to put your life in danger.
Italy is always to continue to work together, to open new opportunities and legal pathways. We are consolidating and strengthening our cooperation also in the migration field.
Diplomatic Spouses: Italy is a very immigrant friend country. Italy received over 40% of arrivals of immigrants to Europe in 2020. What is the reason behind Italy being kinder and more humanitarian than other European countries?
Ambassador Nunziata: You see, first of all I would precise that European Union in general is open to legal migration and has different programs and policies to facilitate regular migration. In particular, Italy has developed through the years efficient policies for regular immigration. We are traditionally open to welcome people from all over the world, and we are a cosmopolitan country. If you look at our history, we are rich in cultural traditions due to a stratification of different cultures. We are always open to diversity. This is also due to a very special geographical position enjoyed by Italy, at the center of the Mediterranean. So naturally there is a tendency to embrace different cultures and being generous and open minded.
Diplomatic Spouses: Rome is one of the candidates to host World Expo 2030. Would you say a few words on the event, please?
Ambassador Nunziata: Italy has been a candidate for the upcoming World Expo to be held in 2030 with a theme on “People and Territories: urban regeneration, inclusion and innovation”. This will emphasis the SDG 11, you know the Sustainable Development Goal. The official mission of SDG 11 is to “Make cities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable”. The 17 SDGs take into account that action in one area will affect outcomes in other areas as well, and that development must balance social, economic and environmental sustainability.”
If Rome is chosen as the host, which we are crossing our fingers for, we will get an opportunity to show the concept of an ancient cities that through the centuries has known different urban adaptation with a stratification of cultures Roman Empire, Middle Age, Renaissance and so on till contemporary architecture. We think that Rome is the ideal place to host such an exhibition, a perfect venue for the World Expo 2030. The election will be held in 2023 in Paris at the General Assembly of Bureau International des Expositions.
Diplomatic Spouses: How do you find Bangladesh and its people? Do you see any similarities in Bangladeshis and Italians?
Ambassador Nunziata: I find Bangladeshis very friendly. The people I have met or meeting day by day are very interesting to talk with and learn from. They hold a very high level of cultural values and a cosmopolitan mentality.
I find many similarities between the people of Italy and Bangladesh. Like whenever I am in conversation with my Bangladeshi friends, two things come up very clearly. One is that we are all very family oriented and the food, especially the recipes and the cooking style many ways match up. We also love to sit and talk among family members and with friends. And we both love football. I am surprised to see that there are many fans who supported us during the World Cup Football. We Italians are very happy that we just won the European 2020 Championship and hopefully we will be able to get back into World Cup again. I know there is a big group of fans for Italy also here in Bangladesh and they raise Italian flags on their rooftops during World Cup season. I get surprised and glad to receive text messages when Italy wins an international soccer game by my colleagues and friends in Bangladesh.
Basically, football is all around you and you always get updated with the football scores and news. Sometimes football makes the headlines in the local dailies. In my family, football is the main topic while at the dining table. Sometimes the family members are divided in supporters of their favorite teams and causes serious arguments. The matter of discussions or conversation is very often about football. So even though I do not really play football since ages ( I played intensively till age 12) or follow football, football has always accompanied me in such a way and that is because it is part of our culture.
Instead, I took an interest in Judo where I concentrated more and took part in some professional competitions and won some medals at my level (green belt). Actually, participation in competitions gave me more pleasure than winning.
Judo is a very popular sports in Italy. Italy won many medals in the Olympics both in men and women categories.
Bangladesh is a beautiful country to visit. So far, I have visited Chittagong, Sylhet, Khulna, Sundarbans, Cox’s Bazar, Satkhira and some other places. The COVID stopped me from travelling but I will continue explore more of Bangladesh. Bangladesh has lot of things to offer in terms of natural beauty and monuments to the outer world. And cultural diversity can be good attractions for the tourists.