DeSantis leads trade trip to Italy next week
TALLAHASSEE - Gov. Ron DeSantis and a Florida delegation on Monday will begin a five-day trade mission to Italy.
DeSantis' office said the delegation of 85 people will visit Rome, Viareggio, Florence, Turin and Milan. Included in the delegation are Florida Department of Commerce Secretary J. Alex Kelly, Space Florida President and CEO Rob Long, Florida Department of Transportation Secretary Jared Perdue, Agency for Health Care Administration Secretary Jason Weida, Florida Secretary of State Cord Byrd, Florida State University President Richard McCullough, New College of Florida President Richard Corcoran and University of South Florida President Rhea Law.
"Italy and Florida share a special relationship as peninsular entities with many shared industries, and I was grateful that Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni invited our Florida delegation to visit," DeSantis said in a prepared statement Friday. "This mission will strengthen ties between our state and their nation and bring new and increased opportunities and investments to Florida."
A news release from the governor's office did not provide details about the delegation's planned meetings.
DeSantis has made other international trips as governor, such as traveling to Japan, South Korea, Israel and England in 2023 and Israel in 2019.
