International Newsmaker Q&A Patrick Capriati

April 12, 2016
Patrick Capriati, marketing promotion manager at the Italian Trade Promotion Agency’s Chicago office, which houses the trade-oriented section of the Italian Embassy, discusses trade opportunities in Italy with Aftermarket Business World.

Patrick Capriati is the marketing promotion manager at the Italian Trade Promotion Agency’s Chicago office, which houses the trade-oriented section of the Italian Embassy.

Commonly known by its Italian-language initials as ICE, the Italian Trade Promotion Agency is the governmental organization aimed at promoting “the internationalization of Italian companies in line with the strategies of the Ministry for Economic Development.” ICE provides information, support and advice to Italian and foreign firms.

In addition to its Rome headquarters, ICE operates worldwide from a large network of locations linked to Italian embassies and consulates, and it works closely with local authorities and businesses.

It provides a wide range of services designed to help Italian and foreign businesses in their efforts to form connections with each other:

  • Identification of possible business partners
  • Bilateral trade meetings with Italian companies
  • Trade delegation visits to Italy
  • Official participation in local fairs and exhibitions
  • Forums and seminars with Italian experts
Capriati recently answered a series of questions posed by Aftermarket Business World:

Q: How do you assist American auto parts suppliers interested in doing business with Italy?

A: To date the role of our Italian Government Office (Chicago office) has been to provide sourcing information to those U.S. companies interested in purchasing automotive aftermarket parts and equipment from Italy.

Q: What are some of the particular auto product categories that Italian firms have been exporting to the U.S.?

A: Some of the most popular Italian automotive aftermarkets parts and automotive diagnostic systems are ignition cables for cars, motorcycles and boats; ignition coils, wiring systems, fuses, and booster cables; CV boots and CV boots kits, steering gaiters and kits; brake spare parts; driveline and chassis technology including electric steering and pumps; power steering racks, pumps and boxes; manual, automated and automatic gearboxes; differentials and rear axles; diagnostic tools; gas analyzers; A/C recharge stations and tele-diagnostic devices.

Q: What services to you offer to assist Italian auto parts suppliers interested in doing business with the U.S.?

A: We have been concentrating our efforts in organizing official Italian pavilions at the major U.S. automotive-related shows – AAPEX and SEMA in Las Vegas. We also share with our Italian manufacturers information on the U.S. automotive sector and provide them with lists of the major automotive retail chains.

We are also a member of the Auto Care Association and have developed, through the years, a very close working relationship with Auto Care, and have worked very closely in establishing an ongoing working relationship between AICA (the Italian Garage Equipment Manufacturers Association), owners of the Autopromotec Trade Exhibition in Bologna, Italy, and TIA (Tire Industry Association). Autopromotec provides a TIA with complimentary exhibit space at their automotive event in Bologna, and TIA promotes the Autopromotec pavilion in the Global Tire Expo of the SEMA Show in Las Vegas.

Q: How much interest have you received from SEMA and AAPEX attendees seeking Italian imports to the U.S. and/or exporting into Italy?

A: The Italian Trade Agency has been coordinating the official Italian pavilion at AAPEX for several years now. Italian exhibitors at AAPEX 2015 included Brecav Srl., Gomet, Ampla Srl., Ocap International Srl., Osvat, Sermes and Texa SpA. We also assisted Promotec in coordinating their pavilion at SEMA’s Global Tire Expo section, which featured the participation of Cattini Oleopneumatica Srl., Fasep 200 Srl., Vamag Srl., Omer SpA. and Promotec, organizers of the Autopromotec Trade Exhibition. (The next Autopromotec is May 24-28, 2017 at Italy’s Bologna Fair Centre.)

At both trade events (AAPEX and SEMA) the interest on the part of the attendees in Italian-made automotive products and equipment is very rewarding. We refer interest in exporting to Italy to the U.S. Foreign Commercial Office in Milan – our U.S. counterparts – at http://export.gov/italy/.

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