Ambassador of Pakistan in Rome Ali Javed, hosted meeting yesterday with Hon’ble President Italian Marble Association Flavio Marabelli and Chairman All Pakistan Marble Industries Association (APMIA) Bilal Khan. CEO PASDEC Khakwani and former President APMIA Shakeel Munir also participated. 

The Ambassador appreciated highest patronage towards establishing the Center emanating from Offices of Advisor to PM Hon’ble Dr. Syed Tauqir Shah and SAPM for Industries & Production Hon’ble Haroon Akhtar Khan. 

Ambassador praised string of constructive interactions from 25.9.25 meeting organised by Embassy Trade & Investment Counsellor (TIC) between Heads of Italian & Pakistani Marble Associations on margins of ‘Italian Marble Fair’at Verona, to interactions between Embassy and Industries Ministry, presided over by SAPM Mr. Khan, on 15.10.25, and with Chairman APMIA on 5.11.25.

Ambassador acknowledged the spirit and resolve from both Marble Associations and Governments to establish the mutually complimentary ‘Pak-Italy Stone Center at ‘Marble City Risalpur’, whereas CEO PASDEC confirmed availability of required land & basic infrastructure committed to the Project.

Mr. Marabelli observed the strong political will in Italy to establish the institute and praised the colossal marble reserves across Pakistan. He assured full commitment to develop mining, production and finishing of Pakistani marble with Italian ‘state of art’ machinery & technology for a ‘value added, end-product’ with global competitive edge.

Mr. Marabelli rated Pakistani marble as ‘best in the world’ and committed ‘scouting mission’ by ‘President Italian Marble Training Institute’ in February 2026 for ‘technical evaluation’ of requirements of the institute through assessment of mines and quarries, and accordingly devising strategies for ‘Training of Trainers’, exchanges between miners, exporters & importers. 

The 75-min ‘G2B’ interaction was organised by TIC Yasir Hussain Khokhar. The two friendly States have already established Centers for Textiles and Footwear, both success stories, in 2020 at Faisalabad and Lahore, respectively.

Pakistan Embassy Rome,
12.11.2025.