As the State of Florida trade mission to Italy continues, Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Italian leader, Giorgia Melonimet Tuesday with the aim of “developing relations between Italy and Florida.”

“It was great to discuss Florida-Italy relations with the Prime Minister today in Rome. We hope that the relationship between Florida and Italy will continue to grow and we welcome increased investment by Italian companies in our state,” DeSantis said. “We appreciate that the Prime Minister hosted our trade delegation this week, and we appreciate his efforts to promote the interests of his country and his people.”

The governor’s office notes the commonalities between the European country and the state.

“Both share common ties, values, industry and commerce, and many Italian-Americans call Florida home. Both are peninsulas with historical significance and uniquely beautiful natural landscapes.

The five-day mission takes 85 Floridians from the government, business and education sectors to Rome, Viareggio, Florence, Turin and Milan, in hopes of strengthening a trade relationship worth $4.4 billion annually.

But governance was not the only focus of Tuesday’s events. The Governor also announced the opening of a new SelectFlorida international business development office in Italy, the 18th in the world.

“Florida is significantly expanding its presence in Italy and we are pleased to announce that our new international trade office will be in Italy,” DeSantis said. “Our physical presence here will continue the work of this trade mission in attracting more business, investment and trade to Florida.”

Also on Tuesday, the governor announced on social media that the delegation met in Viareggio with “three of the world’s largest yacht builders at their shipyards – Sanlorenzo, Benetti and Overmarine – each of which has footprints in Florida.”

“We have encouraged them to increase their investments in the world-class ports of the Free State of Florida and are working to further expand their operations in our state,” DeSantis noted.

Florida Secretary of Commerce J. Alex Kelly added that “Florida’s domestic yacht building industry” will benefit from the “enhanced” connection to “the epicenter of the global yacht building industry.”

The governor integrated trade missions into his administration.

In 2019, a delegation visited Israel under the auspices of Enterprise Florida.

Last year, DeSantis and others visited Japan, South Korea, Israel and the United Kingdom.

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