Italy is one of Bangladesh's largest trading partners, with over 200,000 Bangladeshis living in the country. Despite more than 40 years of diplomatic ties, the two countries have never held a bilateral meeting. However, Italian Deputy Foreign Minister Mario Giro is scheduled to visit Bangladesh for a meeting with his counterpart Md Shahriar Alam. This visit is seen as a new beginning in the relations between the two countries, which are described as smooth, growing, and expanding. This effort is part of Bangladesh's broader strategy to strengthen relations with friendly countries, as evidenced by upcoming bilateral meetings with New Zealand and Portugal. The visit is significant as it marks the first time Italy's foreign minister will hold a bilateral meeting with Bangladesh. A senior official at the foreign ministry, speaking anonymously to bdnews24.com, stated that the focus now is on increasing bilateral talks, which have been receiving a positive response. The official mentioned that a wide range of bilateral issues will be addressed during the meetings. Bangladesh's exports to Italy exceeded $1.3 billion in the last fiscal year, marking a 30 percent increase from the previous year. Dhaka and Rome have similar stances on various international matters such as counter terrorism and climate change. The Prime Minister attended the Asia-Europe Meeting held in Italy in October last year. Her Italian counterpart has invited her to visit Italy again during the upcoming 'Expo Milano' from May 1 to October 31, which is set to be the largest show in the world. The official also mentioned that the Prime Minister has extended an invitation to her Italian counterpart, indicating that the relationship between the two countries is on an upward trajectory.