An Italian delegation led by Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio landed at Ben-Gurion International Airport on Thursday to sign a series of agreements on bilateral cooperation with Israel.
Israeli Ambassador to Italy Dror Eydar, who arrived earlier to prepare for the visit, joined the delegation's convoy to Jerusalem, where Di Maio inked several agreements. Di Maio also met with Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi, President Reuven Rivlin, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as well as Alternate Prime Minister Benny Gantz and Opposition leader Yair Lapid.
Di Maio discussed matters of security, strategy, and diplomacy, as well as joint ventures with Israel to fight the COVID pandemic and promote the Eastern Mediterranean gas pipeline.
One of the deals signed Thursday paved the way for business cooperation between auto parts giant Adler and Israel's Sonovia, which produces antimicrobial textiles. Under the agreement, Sonovia will develop an anti-viral, anti-bacterial textile for Adler, which will be put into use in the factory's production facilities in Europe.
Liat Goldhammer, CTO of Sonovia, said, "The cooperation between Sonovia and Adler will allow us an opportunity to make progress in everything having to do with creating a safer, healthier environment."
