by InTrieste
Friuli Venezia Giulia’s manufacturing and tourism sectors are emerging as key drivers in deepening the region’s collaboration with the United States, particularly with the state of Virginia, according to Regional Councilor for Productive Activities and Tourism, Sergio Emidio Bini.
Speaking at the Italy–U.S. Tech Business and Investment Matching Initiative held at the Italian Embassy in Washington, Bini highlighted the growing synergy between the northeastern Italian region and several U.S. states. The event was part of an ongoing institutional mission aimed at fostering economic and technological partnerships across the Atlantic.
“The bilateral agreement signed a year ago between Governor Massimiliano Fedriga of Friuli Venezia Giulia and Governor Glenn Youngkin of Virginia has been a strong catalyst for cooperation,” Bini said. “Even concerns related to trade tariffs have not slowed our shared commitment to combining expertise and business opportunities—particularly in the fields of security, cybersecurity, materials engineering, life sciences, and Industry 4.0.”
Bini emphasized that Friuli Venezia Giulia, though small in size, has positioned itself as an innovative hub in both industrial production and services, earning strong interest from American partners. “We also see significant potential to expand tourism from the United States to our region,” he said. “Our diverse landscapes, cultures, traditions, and languages make Friuli Venezia Giulia a uniquely rich destination.”
The meeting was attended by Italy’s Minister of Tourism Daniela Santanché and Virginia’s Secretary of Commerce, Juan Pablo Segura.
In his closing remarks, Bini reflected on the importance of building enduring partnerships between Italy and the United States. “The concept of ‘matching’—meeting and becoming complementary—perfectly captures the spirit of our collaboration,” he said. “When connections are this strong, business becomes fluid and growth is mutually beneficial. We are confident that this synergy will continue to bear fruit.”
