India is a great and stable country: Italian Trade Commissioner

NEW DELHI: Italy "believes" in India and it does not have to "prove" anything to establish that it is a "very stable market", a top Italian official said today against the backdrop of the Jat quota stir and a debate over free speech.

Italian Trade Commissioner Francesco Pensabene made the remarks while announcing a two-year campaign, 'Italy: The Extraordinary Commonplace', to promote the European country's best of food, fashion and design among others.

"We conceived this plan because we believe in India. India does not have to prove anything but India is a very stable market for us.

"Just look at the growth rate of India, we push our companies to come over to India. I officially and personally believe that this is a great and stable country to be in," Pensabene said when asked about Italy's views on the ongoing debate over free speech and dissent.

US Ambassador to India Richard Verma, while speaking on the JNU row, had recently said diversity of "thought and speech" was one of India's great hallmarks which will "propel" it forward in the next century.

Under the campaign, a series of focused events and activities in each sector will be held across the country to promote Italian lifestyle and businesses in India and to explore new business avenues for Italian companies.

"Italy is also a country to invest and is the second largest manufacturer in Europe after Germany. It's not just about pizza and sunshine," Pensabene quipped.