Introduction

The Italian Trade Agency (ITA), with nearly a century of history promoting "Made in Italy," needed a modern, digital solution to help its small and medium enterprises (SMEs) overcome the challenges of global trade. By partnering with Tridge, ITA successfully digitized its export support program, connecting over 144 Italian companies to a global network of high-quality buyers and creating unprecedented opportunities for even the smallest producers.

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At a Glance: ITA Success Story‍

• Organization: Italian Trade Agency (ITA)
• Industry: International Trade & Development, Food & Agriculture
• Goal: Digital Transformation & SME Export Support
• Outcome: 144+ Companies onboarded, Access to 350K+ Buyers

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About the Customer

The Italian Trade Agency (ITA) is the governmental agency that supports the business development of Italian companies abroad and promotes the attraction of foreign investment in Italy. For nearly 100 years, it has been the primary partner for companies seeking to navigate international markets and promote the excellence of "Made in Italy" worldwide.

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A Century of Tradition Meets the Digital Challenge

The ITA is a pillar of the Italian economy, tasked with promoting the iconic "Made in Italy" brand—a symbol of quality in sectors like agrifood. However, the industry is dominated by small and medium enterprises (SMEs) that often face significant hurdles in going global.

"Those companies, they lack resources, time, energy," explains Ferdinando Gueli, Italian Trade Commissioner in Seoul. "In a global market like we are now, you need to have more knowledge about different markets, different consumer behaviors, and different regulations."

Specifically, Italian producers faced three main challenges:

• Resource Constraints: SMEs lacked the time and manpower to navigate complex global markets.
• Market Access: Producers struggled to understand diverse consumer behaviors and find reliable partners.
• Visibility: Micro-enterprises with high-quality products found it nearly impossible to secure meetings with major global retailers.

Recognizing the shift to a digital-first world, ITA sought a partner that could provide not just a platform, but guidance, market intelligence, and tangible access.

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Finding the Right Digital Partner: Why Tridge?

After a thorough search, ITA chose Tridge as its strategic partner. "Tridge was exactly matching what we were expecting," Gueli states. The decision was driven by three critical factors:

1. A Specialized B2B Platform: Unlike B2C e-commerce platforms, Tridge specializes in B2B connections. "Finding good, reliable, and professional partners is the key for their success," emphasizes Gueli.
2. A Vetted Global Buyer Network: Tridge offered access to over 350,000 pre-qualified buyers from more than 100 countries. The fact that these buyers were vetted provided immense security and value to Italian SMEs.
3. Powerful Market Intelligence: Beyond matchmaking, Tridge’s data capabilities allowed ITA to provide its companies with deep insights into market trends and pricing.

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Tangible Results: Creating 'Miracles' for Micro-Enterprises

The partnership quickly yielded impressive results. Over 144 Italian agrifood companies were onboarded to a dedicated digital "Italian Pavilion" on the Tridge platform.

However, the true success lies in the stories of individual producers. Gueli highlights the case of a micro-enterprise with less than $25,000 in export revenue. Through Tridge, this small producer was approached by a major French retailer chain—a connection that would have been impossible through traditional channels.

“For a very small company like this, they cannot even have an appointment with a buyer from such a very big organization. But in this environment, these kinds of miracles happen. So this is what we are looking for.”

— Ferdinando Gueli, Italian Trade Commissioner in Seoul

These "miracles" are what the ITA strives for: connecting small, unique producers with large-scale opportunities that were previously unattainable.

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Watch the Full Story

Discover how ITA and Tridge are digitizing the future of Italian exports in the video below.

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Conclusion: A Long-Term Partnership for Global Growth

The collaboration between ITA and Tridge has proven to be more than a short-term project; it is a strategic alliance providing Italy's vibrant SME community with the digital tools needed to thrive globally.

"We like a long-term approach," concludes Gueli. "We always try to build stable and long-term partnerships, because this will provide us with real value in the long term."

Interested in sourcing high-quality Italian products? Visit the dedicated Italian Pavilion on Tridge.

Explore Tridge X ITA's Made in Italy 🇮🇹

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