Italy Records 31.5% Growth in Agricultural, Fisheries, Forestry Exports to Qatar in 2025

Italy’s agricultural, fisheries, and forestry exports to Qatar witnessed a 31.5% increase in 2025, according to data shared by the Italian Trade Agency (ITA) Doha on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the ‘Week of Italian Cuisine in the World’.

The anniversary celebration was highlighted by a conference titled ‘Italian Cooking: Health, Culture, and Innovation’, held at the Sidra Medicine Auditorium Wednesday.

 The event, organised by ITA Doha and the Trade Office of the Embassy of Italy in Qatar, in collaboration with Sidra Medicine and OnFoods, gathered over 100 participants, including nutrition experts, medical professionals, and representatives of the Italian-Qatari business community.

In a statement, ITA Doha noted: “In line with the topics covered by the conference, as well as with Italy’s contribution to healthy and sustainable diets, recent trade data further illustrates the strength of Italian agri-food sectors in Qatar. “Agricultural, fisheries and forestry exports reached an increase of 31.5% in 2025, reaffirming Italy’s strong position as a supplier of premium agricultural goods to Qatar, with processed foods continuing to represent a solid pillar of bilateral trade.” ITA Doha added: “The sharp rise in primary agricultural products also reflects Qatar’s growing demand for Italian quality and signals promising opportunities to further expand Italy’s export presence in the market.”

In his opening speech, Italian ambassador Paolo Toschi underscored the strength of ties between Qatar and Italy by recognising Sidra Medicine as a cornerstone of Qatar’s health system and praising the many Italian professionals contributing daily to its success.

Toschi described the first official visit of Italy’s Minister of Health, Professor Orazio Schillaci, in April 2025 as “a milestone that opened new pathways for collaboration in healthcare.” The ambassador’s speech also described Sidra not only as “a symbol of excellence in Qatar” but also as a bridge for deeper institutional cooperation, reinforcing how shared expertise and cultural exchange continue to advance bilateral relations.

He emphasised, “Italy is one of the healthiest countries in the world, also thanks to the Italian diet. The conference successfully combined science, nutrition, and gastronomy, celebrating Italian culinary culture and reinforcing the strong trade and cultural ties between Italy and Qatar.” The conference, moderated by Professor Mamoun Elawad, chief of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition and head of Inflammatory Bowel Disorders at Sidra Medicine, opened with the welcome remarks from Sam Lock, executive director, Commercial Development at Sidra Medicine, and Dr Muhammad Ali Hameed, executive director, Research Core Facilities at Sidra Medicine.

The programme featured a key presentation by Professor Cristian Del Bo’ of the University of Milan, who highlighted the scientific evidence positioning Italian cuisine as a model of a healthy and sustainable Mediterranean diet, as well as by Dr Annalisa Terranegra of Sidra Medicine, who presented the role of precision nutrition in personalised patient care. The event concluded with a tasting of healthy Italian cuisine by chef Marco Consalvo, showcasing Italy’s culinary excellence.