The Tribune

The first official visit to the Bahamas and Grand Bahama by an Italian ambassador saw Claudio Bisogniero pay a courtesy call on executives at the Grand Bahama Port Authority (GBPA).

The visit was seen as a reaffirmation of ties that have existed since the two countries established formal diplomatic relations in 1978. Discussion centred around Grand Bahama as the industrial capital of the Bahamas, and the island’s capabilities to handle post-Panamax ships that are expected to call in the wake of the Panama Canal expansion’s completion.

“Our main focus is to encourage growth and new investment,” said Sarah St. George, the GBPA’s vice chairman. “We are particularly interested in positioning ourselves as a major port and developing business clusters that can provide support services for existing industries.”

Focusing on Italy’s rich cultural heritage and advanced education system, Ms St George also encouraged the Ambassador to assiste young Bahamians to travel to Italy for training in fields such as culinary arts, hospitality and the maritime sector.

Ambassador Bisogniero promised to promote Grand Bahama to a larger pool of industrialists and investors who regularly visit the Washington D.C. offices where he is based.

“We already have a presence here and we want to expand on that,” the Italian Ambassador said. “There are so many ties, so much history and definitely a willingness to do more.”