Taipei, Oct. 17 (CNA) Taiwan’s government officially opened a new representative Office in Milan on Monday, giving it a second office in Italy, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said Tuesday.

The office’s first head, former deputy representative to Italy Riccardo Lin (林讚南), presided over a plaque unveiling ceremony to mark the official launch of the office, MOFA said in a press release.

The ceremony was also attended by Gian Marco Centinaio, vice president of Italy’s Senate, and Paolo Formentini, vice president of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the Italian Chamber, it said.

Foreign Minister Joseph Wu (吳釗燮) gave a congratulatory address in a pre-recorded clip during the event, according to MOFA.

Before Monday, Taiwan’s only Representative Office in Italy had been in Rome, and MOFA said the Milan office will help facilitate closer trade and economic links with northern Italy.

Taiwan had already had a presence in Milan, Italy’s financial and business hub, prior to the opening of the office.

There was a Taiwan Trade Center operated by the Taiwan External Trade Development Council, which helps Taiwanese businesses enter foreign markets, and Taiwan’s EVA Airways launched a new passenger service between Taipei and Milan in October 2022.

According to MOFA, the new representative office will offer consular and emergency services to Taiwanese expatriates living and working in eight administrative regions in northern Italy — Aosta Valley, Piedmont, Liguria, Lombardy, Emilia-Romagna, Veneto, Friuli-Venezia Giulia and Trentino-Alto Adige.

The office, titled “Ufficio di Rappresentanza di Taipei in Italia-Ufficio di Milano” or the Taipei Representative Office in Italy — Milan Office, is located at Via Fabio Filzi, 25/A/P.12 – 20124 Milano, Italia.

Its phone number and email address are +39 3343-838-604 and [email protected]. Taiwanese nationals who need emergency services can call the 24/7 hotline at +39 3342-222-171