Italian ambassador Stefano Canavesio says that more than 20,000 Dominicans have married Italians and moved to Italy. He said the Embassy/Consulate of Italy in the DR receives about 200 requests a day for residency visas from Dominicans who have married Italians. He said about 150,000 Italians tourists will visit this year, and exports from Italy to the DR will be US$100 million. Italy will import US$20 million in goods from the DR. Canavesio made the comments when announcing that President Hipolito Mejia is scheduled to travel to Italy to participate in the World Summit of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) that will be held 4-7 November in Rome, as reported in the Listin Diario in its coverage of a Aeromundo TV program. (17 September 2001)
