ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Italy are currently working to enhance collaboration between the two countries in the agriculture sector, and are expected to sign a memorandum of understanding on professional capacity building and extension in agriculture early next year.
Minister for National Food Security and Research Rana Tanveer Hussain held a meeting with Italian Minister of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forestry Francesco Lollobrigida, in Rome on Thursday, and invited him to visit Pakistan early next year to sign the memorandum of understanding, which he said would help advance bilateral cooperation.
Mr Lollobrigida said he looked forward to finalising and signing the upcoming MoU on Professional Capacity Building and Extension in Agriculture, which aims to strengthen agricultural skills through technical and vocational training.
He added that the Italian Trade Agency, which opened its office in Islamabad in mid-2023, is supporting a 20 million euros project for the horticulture sector to enhance employment opportunities for Pakistani workers at home and abroad.
Rana Tanveer expressed readiness to host the Italian delegation for the sixth Joint Economic Commission and the second Joint Working Group under the Labour Accord, recalling that the first joint working group was held in Rome in September this year. The two countries signed the MoU on labour in May this year, which is termed as an important step in broadening bilateral cooperation.
Ministers in Rome agree to finalise MoU early next year
The two ministers reviewed progress on the ongoing olive sector projects, including the Olive Culture Scale-Up Project funded by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS). The programme follows the earlier Olive Culture Project (2022-2024) and the Promotion of Olive Cultivation on Commercial Scale in Pakistan (Phase II, 2021-2026).
Mr Tanveer thanked Italy for its continued technical support and requested further cooperation in modern agricultural machinery, research, and improved techniques for olive oil extraction.
Mr Lollobrigida gave a detailed briefing on the systems used in Italy to ensure quality control across the entire olive oil production chain, and said his ministry was ready to share relevant experience with Pakistan.
He also proposed forming a joint technical group to follow up on cooperation in research, mechanisation and modern olive oil extraction, and stated that Italy would soon offer an additional memorandum of understanding on the subject.
Published in Dawn, December 5th, 2025
Dining and Cooking