Italian Ambassador Mario Boffo

Italy and Saudi Arabia enjoy excellent relations as the former marks its 69th national day on June 2, according to Italian Ambassador Mario Boffo.

“Our ties go a long time back. Italy was among the first countries to establish ties with Saudi Arabia when it was established in 1932,” the Italian envoy told Arab News on Wednesday.

He added, however, that more could be done to improve them. In the political field, an important meeting between the two countries was held in Rome in 2013 to celebrate the 80th anniversary of relations between the two countries.

“The Saudi ministers of foreign affairs, finance and trade went to Rome and met their Italian counterparts,” said Boffo who assumed his post in Saudi Arabia on July 11, 2013.

He added that the two countries signed a memorandum of understanding for cooperation in archaeology, restoration, museums and training. “In fact, we have a university, the Instituto Orientale Di Napoli, that runs an archaeological site in Jumat Al-Jandal in Al-Jouf, and will also start submarine explorations,” he said.

The volume of trade between the two countries touches 12 billion euros, he said.

During the last two years, three business delegations led by Minister of Economic Development Federica Guidi visited Saudi Arabia.

He added that to further prop up bilateral trade, the embassy is also working on three sectors — infrastructure, energy and health. “Each of them is a universe of things, so to speak,” he said, adding that infrastructure means railways, transport, buildings, roads, the metro and so on.

As far as energy is concerned, he said, it means “renewable energy, nuclear energy, traditional energy, oil-based energy, among others.”

On health, Italy could also offer its professional, technical and scientific expertise. “Success in these sectors could really improve our business relationship,” he said.

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