KUWAIT: Kuwait’s appetite for Italian cuisine is on the rise, with the food industry driving a recent surge in Italian imports, according to an official. Romano Baruzzi, the Italian Trade Commissioner to Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, highlighted a 20 percent increase in Italian exports to Kuwait, with beverages and food products leading the charge. He credited Kuwait’s vibrant market, which provides access to premium Italian chefs, restaurants, and products, offering the same quality as in Italy. Baruzzi was speaking at the inauguration of the 9th edition of the Week of the Italian Cuisine in the World, organized by the Embassy of Italy in Kuwait in collaboration with ITA, Italian Trade Agency for the promotion abroad and the internationalization of Italian companies.

The Week of Italian Cuisine in the World, an initiative promoted every year by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, celebrates and promotes Italian cuisine and its gastronomic traditions, highlighting the quality of the ingredients, the variety of regional preparations and the importance of Italian food culture at a global level also as a tool for cultural exchange.

Italian Ambassador to Kuwait Lorenzo Morini underlined Kuwait’s passion for Italian cuisine, as demonstrated by the constant growth of imports of Italian products in the agri-food sector into Kuwait. He said it was important to continue to focus on quality to further increase the market share of Italian products in the country. “We take great pride in Italian cuisine, not only because it is healthy but also because it is deeply rooted in our traditions and heritage. In this sense, Italians and Kuwaitis share a strong similarity in our deep respect for traditions. Food is an integral part of our culture, and it plays a central role in our gatherings,” the ambassador explained.

Discussing the purpose of the initiative, he explained: “The goal is to promote Italian food and highlight the connection between cuisine, a healthy lifestyle, and local production. It’s also crucial for us to showcase authentic Italian products because there are often Italian-sounding products that don’t reflect the true quality or heritage of what we’re celebrating today.”

Morini said there are currently four authentic Italian restaurants in Kuwait. “It’s better to have a few excellent restaurants than many that don’t truly represent Italian cuisine. Some other restaurants are Italian-inspired, meaning they use Italian recipes but with modifications.” In addition to the agri-food sector, Kuwait and Italy also enjoy strong cooperation in defense and construction, Morini said. He highlighted the Eurofighter deal, by which Italy is supplying Kuwait with 28 Eurofighter Typhoon combat aircraft. “In the construction sector, Italian companies sometimes bring machinery to Kuwait for specific projects. While this is more of a contractual arrangement between companies and the state than a traditional export, it highlights another area of collaboration,” he said.

In terms of Kuwaiti exports to Italy, he added that the focus is primarily on oil and oil-related products. “Our collaboration in the oil industry has a long history, with Kuwait owning a refinery in Italy and managing an extensive distribution network there. Chemical products and their components also make up a significant portion of Kuwait’s exports to Italy,” he said. He affirmed that the trade between the two countries has grown substantially which reflects strengthening ties, revealing that there is the potential for a high-level visit soon.