Are you kidding? International buyers are asking for corona-free plants!

 On 3 March, in two Italian newspapers, ItaliaOggi and Linkiesta, Luigi de Maio, Italy’s Foreign Minister, announced government plans to inject €716 million into the economy to help sectors promote Italian made products and develop its export markets.

ANVE, Italy’s National Association of Nursery Stock Exporters is in contact with the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to inform its members how to apply for the different types of funding and financial compensation for losses incurred due to the coronavirus.

The proposed aid package includes not only tax cuts, tax credits but also compensation for companies which were unable to participate in trade shows due to the coronavirus.

The news comes one week after the cancellation of Milan’s trade fair for ornamental horticulture MyPlant&Garden which is now happening later in the year from 21-23 September.

The Italian Trade Agency (ITA) is willing to cover 100 per cent of the incurred costs. Additionally, the agency offers companies the possibility to participate in ITA initiatives free of charge. Until March 2021, companies with up to 100 employees can also make free use of ITA’s services offered by their offices around the world.

For the occasion, ANVE’s Secretary Eduardo Sciutti told FCI that customers from abroad ask ANVE members to provide coronavirus-free plants. It needs no further explanation that such requests are ‘completely assurdo’. Naturally, growers are unable to produce such documents.