Last Saturday, Consul General Michele Mistò gave his introductory remarks at a wonderful event organized by National Italian-American Foundation (NIAF) in West Palm Beach to present Governor Ron DeSantis with Dea Roma Lifetime Achievement in Public Service.
Consul General Mistò put in the spotlight the exemplary role played by NIAF in strengthening the deep and enduring friendship between the United States and Italy, Florida and Italy, renewing our shared values, promoting cultural and economic collaboration, and – last but not least – passing on to future generations not only a heritage of values, but also a sense of perspective and confidence in the future. On the solemn occasion of this award ceremony, Consul Mistò thanked Governor DeSantis for the dynamism he infused in the Italy-Florida relations, by leading trade and economic missions to Italy, promoting agreements of collaboration in strategic fields, expanding bilateral business opportunities, and fostering a climate of ever close collaborations across all sectors. Particularly meaningful, the Consul underscored, were the opening of a SelectFlorida office in Milan last September, the official participation of the Florida authorities in the Genoa Boat Show, and the conclusion of a comprehensive memorandum of understanding with the Lombardy Region. In a climax of opportunities, next May, the inaugural Italy–U.S. Business, Investment, Science, and Innovation Forum, organized by the Italian Government in close partnership with the State of Florida will be held in Miami.
The strengthened framework of bilateral relations has supported the remarkable trade growth between Florida and Italy, which reached 5.3 billion dollars in 2025 (up 8%) and continues to rise. Florida hosts the largest number of Italian companies in the United States—about 500—employing over 10,000 people and contributing to robust, non‑predatory business, trade, and manufacturing ecosystems. Miami is home to the second‑largest Italian Consulate in the United States, serving nearly 70,000 Italian citizens—a community that continues to grow at an impressive pace, with an average of 500 new arrivals every month.
