Georgia welcomed its first-ever Made in Italy Expo, a week-long celebration of Italian excellence in fashion, cinema, cuisine, design, and business. Held from September 15 to 22, the event attracted more than 1,000 participants.
The program featured a wide range of activities: showroom activations, Italian restaurant engagements, an Italian Film Festival, industry talks, tastings, and a spectacular fashion show that closed the week.
Georgia, one of the fastest-growing economic hubs in the United States, has seen an 11.2% rise in labor productivity over the past decade and a 34% increase in real value-added output. Italian companies already play a significant role in this growth, generating over $4 billion in revenue and more than 6,000 jobs in the state. Firms such as Pirelli, EssilorLuxottica, Aquafil, SCM Group, and FAE stand as successful examples of Italian investment.
“Georgia represents a strategic hub for the America of tomorrow.” Nicola Vidali, Managing Director of the IACCSE- Georgia Chapter, added: “It was a chance to spotlight the Italian businesses already established here and to position Atlanta on the national radar as a region open to international dialogue.”
The event was organized by Italia America Reputation Lab (IARL) in collaboration with the Italy-America Chamber of Commerce Southeast – Georgia Chapter, and supported by sponsors including Jas, FAE, Miller & Martin, Pirelli, Roedl & Partner, FM Exhibit, J. Goldin, Rosetta, and La Regina Atlantica, and with support from entrepreneurs who have been promoting Italian culture and business in the region for years: Filiberto Calascibetta, Carolina Rossini, Giancarlo Pirrone, Antonella Lovinger, Marco Rebuffi, Riccardo Ullio, Pietro Gianni, Antonio Pedrina, Emanuela Barzaghi, Ryan Kurtz, Emilio Rinaldi, and Enrico Cimador. A larger program is planned for 2026, marking a long-term investment in economic ties between Italy and Georgia.
