Country Report
Italy, also known officially as the Italian Republic, is an independent nation in southern Europe is known for its rich cultural heritage and natural beauty. Located on the Italian Peninsula, and on the two largest islands in the Mediterranean Sea, (Sicily and Sardinia) geographically Italy is a fairly small, Mediterranean country. Roughly 116,328 square miles Italy shares its foreign borders with France, Switzerland, Austria and Slovenia. The Apennine Mountains form the peninsula's backbone and the Alps form its northern boundary. Its capital city of Rome is both the industrial center as well as the cultural center of Italy with the countries overall population estimated at 58,145,320 people.
Some of Italy's major agricultural imports include fruits, vegetables, grapes, potatoes, sugar beets, soybeans, grain, olives; beef, dairy products, and fish. However overall their major imports include engineering products, chemicals, transport equipment, energy products, minerals and nonferrous metals, textiles and clothing and ultimately gross on average $498.1 billion. Modern Italy is an important industrial nation and a thriving part of Europe’s “community” . Principal exports which grossed approximately $502.4 billion in 2007 include engineering products, textiles and clothing, production machinery, motor vehicles, transport equipment, chemicals, food, beverages and tobacco; minerals, and nonferrous metals. Historically Italy has been important since Roman times,
and millions of tourists are attracted each year to its ancient cities and art treasures. principal trading partners are other members of the EC, especially Germany and France.
Politically, Italy’s government was originally a republic, and ultimately a republic again. Currently the president of the republic (Giorgio Napolitano) acts as head of state and is elected to a renewable seven year term. He is elected by a joint session of Parliament and three delegates from each of the...