For the first time since its founding in 1922, the Italian Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Sydney has a woman at its helm.
Rachel Grassi originally hails from Busto Arsizio in the outskirts of Milan. She has gained significant experience in promoting commercial and institutional networks and in promoting Italian companies and bilateral trade abroad.
"The purpose of the Chamber is to consolidate its role as the hub of Italy towards Australia as a whole and towards Australians above all," explains Rachele Grassi.
But it is not just about creating opportunities for Italian entities in Australia. The mission of the Chamber of Commerce also goes in the opposite direction:
"The core of the Chamber's work is to promote bilateral trade: from Italy to Australia and from Australia to Italy".
Rachele Grassi has been working at the Sydney Chamber of Commerce since 2016, after spending five years in Tokio, at the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Japan. And in Japan she studied the local language and economics at WASEDA University.
During her interview with SBS Italian she also described the dynamics of the trade exchange between Australia and Italy.
For example: did you know that it is not the agri-food sector the main Italian export into Australia, but rather it is that of large agricultural machinery? And that Australia exports "shopping centers" to Italy?
