Italy is the second largest supplier of Russia's expanding fashion sector and is setting its sights on an even bigger share of the multi-billion euro market, foreign undersecretary Ivan Scalfarotto said Wednesday.
"In 2019 Italy is confirmed in second place as a fashion supplier country in the Russian Federation" - said Scalfarotto after talking part in Russian and Eastern Europe's main fashion fair held in Moscow - Premiere Collection.
"It is a market that represents great opportunities for Italian companies and we are working together with Russian importers and distributors so that the quality and creativity of our products can be increasingly recognized and appreciated."
Italian fashion designers turned over 1.4 billion euros in Russia last year - a 2.2% increase in exports from 2018, the foreign ministry said in a statement.
Over 100 luxury Italian fashion labels exhibited at the Premiere Collection, with support from Italy's foreign trade institute Ice and textile and fashion associations Sistema Moda Italia and Ente Moda Italia, said the statement.
"The reaction from Russian and Belorussian operators was very positive," the statement said.
