Inside Calabria's Cheese Industry and a New Export Initiative to India and the G

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A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with an estimated trade value of EUR 100 million has been signed to support exports of food products from Italy's Calabria region to India, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. Premium Italian cheese is one of the product categories included in the initiative.

The agreement follows approximately five months of preparation that began in February 2025. According to the project details, the process involved discussions with Italian government officials, engagement with food manufacturers and producers, product evaluations, and coordination with import houses across the three destination markets.

In July 2026, a delegation of 11 business representatives from India, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE visited Calabria at the invitation of the regional government. One of the key visits was to a large-scale cheese production facility, where the delegation observed different stages of dairy processing, quality control, packaging, and export preparation.

Calabria, located in southern Italy, has a long tradition of dairy production and is known for several regional cheeses alongside a broader range of agricultural and food products. More about the region is available here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calabria

Meetings during the visit also covered export logistics, operational planning, regulatory considerations, and opportunities for long-term business cooperation between Italian producers and importers in India, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE.

The initiative reflects ongoing efforts to expand market access for regional food producers while strengthening commercial links between Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.

Additional background on the broader trade initiative is available here: https://lnkd.in/p/e7Gwi55E