President Leonel Fernández will visit Italy in October. The ambassador of Italy in the DR Ruggiero Vozzi said that the trip is important given the increase in tourism and trade exchanges between both nations. He said that 300,000 Italians visited the DR last year. In addition, he explained that 10,000 Italians are permanent residents of the DR, with another 7,000 living in the DR part of the year. Ambassador Vozzi feels that Dominican businessmen can learn a lot from Italian businessmen. He explained, in an interview in El Siglo newspaper, that 60% of exports of Italy are carried out by companies with less than 50 workers. President Fernández will arrive in Italy on 20 October, after attending the Iberoamerican Summit in Lisbon, Portugal. He will stay in Italy through 24 October. His agenda includes visits to the Prime Minister, the President of Italy and the Major of Rome, as well as with the presidents of the Senate and Chamber of Deputies. He will also visit Pope John Paul II. President Fernández is traveling to Italy responding to an invitation from Prime Minister Romano Prodi. This will be the first time a Dominican statesman makes an official visit to Italy.
