by InTrieste
In a visit aimed at strengthening regional cooperation with the United States, Friuli Venezia Giulia Governor Massimiliano Fedriga met in Washington on Sunday with Italy’s new ambassador to the U.S., Marco Peronaci. The encounter, described by Fedriga as “productive and very cordial,” marked a new step in the region’s growing engagement across the Atlantic.
The talks, which also included the region’s Councilor for Productive Activities and Tourism, Sergio Emidio Bini, touched on a range of issues reflecting both the strong relationship between Italy and the United States and the potential for greater collaboration between individual regions and American states. Fedriga emphasized that the meeting came “at a time when our country enjoys growing international credibility,” noting that Friuli Venezia Giulia’s proactive diplomacy serves as a model for regional partnerships.
Among the topics discussed was the ongoing cooperation between Friuli Venezia Giulia and the state of Virginia, established through a memorandum of understanding signed by both governors last year. The agreement has since laid the groundwork for joint initiatives in innovation, trade, and education — areas both sides see as central to deepening economic and cultural ties.
Fedriga and Bini also highlighted the region’s strategic location in Europe. Bordering Slovenia and Austria and facing the Adriatic Sea, Friuli Venezia Giulia occupies what they called a “geopolitical crossroads” — a position central to discussions on migration, Balkan relations, and the shifting patterns of industrial production known as reshoring and neoshoring. The region is also positioning itself as a key logistics hub along the new India–Middle East–Europe Corridor (IMEC), an emerging trade route aimed at linking South Asia with European markets.
During his Washington visit, Fedriga also met with a major international logistics company backed by substantial investment funds. According to the governor, the firm expressed strong interest in exploring opportunities in Friuli Venezia Giulia, particularly in sectors connected to transport, logistics, and sustainable development.
The meetings reflect a broader strategy by the northeastern Italian region to attract international partnerships and investment, positioning itself as both a gateway to Central Europe and a bridge between the Mediterranean and global markets.
