"I BELIEVE THAT A STRATEGIC AND COMPREHENSIVE PLAN FOR ITALIAN AGRICULTURE AND AGRI-FOOD FOR THE PRESENT BUT ALSO THE FUTURE IS CRUCIAL”, SAID THE MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE MARTINA AT HIS INAUGURATION IN VIA XX SETTEMBRE

"I believe a strategic and comprehensive plan for Italian agriculture and agri-food is crucial; a plan not only related to the choices in the present but to a future vision of how this world can contribute to the development of the Country in the coming years", stated the Minister of Agriculture, Maurizio Martina, after taking office in the Ministry of Agriculture in Via XX Settembre.
"The game we are about to play”, Martina added, “is more and more the center of attention of an industry that has the numbers and extraordinary potential. It is an ambitious game, and since very soon a representative from Italy will become President of the EU and Expo 2015 is at the door, we intend to play this game in the best way possible.
There are three main commitments. I am referring to the choices regarding the new CAP, Expo 2015 and the importance of jobs connected to agriculture, presented together with President Letta a few weeks ago". The main topic for the Minister is “strengthening the tools in support of new jobs; I am referring particularly to a series of initiatives to help the employment of young people in the sector, since compared to the European average we are far behind. In this sense, it is very important to fully grasp the work potential”.

Focus - The new Minister and his commitment to Expo 2015
"I am excited about the Expo challenge. I thank and salute Beppe Sala, Diana Bracco and all the people who are working with great expertise and enthusiasm”, said the new Minister of Agriculture, Maurizio Martina. As undersecretary in the Letta government he was appointed to coordinating the activities for Expo 2015 and continues to maintain that role. "We will work side by side”, added Martina, “and will help to develop this huge potential. Of course, having worked on the project in the last few months and having followed the Expo from the beginning, also being a native Lombard, I think one of the main themes is to link the Expo as much as possible to this Ministry”.



Focus - Federvini Welcomes the new Minister

"We fully agree with the statements of the newly appointed Minister of Agriculture Maurizio Martina for which the agri-food sector and the Italian federation of wine industries
Federvini “constitute a key resource for the recovery and development of Italy in light of the world Expo 2015. We need a comprehensive plan, and Federvini is willing to help with projects and concrete actions”, stated Lamberto Vallarino Gancia, President of Federvini.
"For some time now we have been saying that the sector constitutes a valuable resource to enhance and promote, avoiding actions that may instead constitute an obstacle to development. Federvini today generates, in a context of declining consumption, tax revenues for over 8 billion euros, employs over 1.200.000 people and generates a turnover of around 40 billion euros. We are not asking for support policies, but rather a plan to create the conditions for major events such as the Expo”, concluded Gancia, “and to continue the internationalization of markets as opportunities that businesses and Italian producers can pick up and fully out”.