THE BUSINESS FORUM ORGANISED BY ICE, FMI AND ANCMA IS HELD AT SEPANG, MALAYSIA, IN COLLABORATION WITH DORNA SPORTS

Sepang, 27-10-2025 (FMI press release) – An excellent commercial opportunity for some of Italy's leading companies in the sector, during a meeting with major operators from Malaysia and key countries in the Asia-Pacific region. On Saturday 25 October 2025, during the weekend of the Malaysian MotoGP, a business forum was held in Sepang, organised by ICE (the Italian Trade Agency, which promotes foreign trade and the growth of Italian companies at international level) in collaboration with the Italian Motorcycling Federation (FMI), ANCMA and Dorna Sports.

The Aprilia Racing team, representing the Piaggio Group: from left, Massimo Rivola (CEO Aprilia Racing), riders Marco Bezzecchi and Lorenzo Savadori, and Antonio Boselli (Head of Motorsport Communication). Photo courtesy of FMI.

The purpose of the initiative was to take advantage of the MotoGP stage being held here, attracting key players to Malaysia, in order to offer Italian motorcycle manufacturers a superb opportunity to expand their commercial relationships, and therefore their market, within the Asian geographical area. Ten Italian companies took part in the event, meeting directly with forty buyers from nine markets from Asia and further afield (Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, Indonesia, India, Taiwan, China, Japan and Australia) with an interest in Italian brands.

L, Giovanni Copioli (Chariman of FMI). R, Carmelo Ezpeleta, CEO of Dorna Sports. Photo courtesy of FMI.

The day started at 9.00 a.m. with the business matching event, which took part in the private Italian area in the MotoGP VIP Village. Here, the various parties involved met to discuss and establish new relationships during scheduled appointments for this purpose. At the end of the day, the “Racing beyond borders: Italy and the motorcycle passion" event was held, introduced by Carmelo Ezpeleta, CEO of Dorna Sports, with speeches by Matteo Zoppas (Chairman of ICE), Giovanni Copioli (Chairman of FMI), Raffaele Langella (Italian Ambassador to Malaysia), and Mariano Roman (Chairman of ANCMA), who outlined the opportunities offered by the Italian supply chain and its organisation to participants.

L, Raffaele Langella (Italian ambassador to Malaysia). R, Mariano Roman (Chairman of ANCMA). Photo courtesy of FMI.

Following the presentation, the trailer for the video series “Moto d'Italia - cultura oltre la pista” (Italian motorcycles - culture beyond the track) was shown; this project by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation is designed to promote the image of Italian motorcycle companies abroad, and is set to be shown during events organised by Italian embassies and the Ministry and ICE networks. The Italian Motorcycling Federation, ANCMA and Dorna Sports also contributed to the miniseries.

Matteo Zoppas, Chairman of ICE. Photo courtesy of FMI.

Matteo Zoppas, Chairman of ICE: “Taking advantage of the MotoGP race in Sepang, ICE, the Italian Trade Agency, organised a series of meetings between Italian companies and customers from a number of Asian countries. This initiative embodies and unites the diplomacy of growth of the Motorbike Economy within an ideal context of sporting diplomacy, drawing on the event's appeal to customers and the media.

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THE GROWING IMPORTANCE OF SPORT AS A TOOL FOR DIPLOMACY IN GROWTH: THE STATEMENT OF ITALIAN AMBASSADOR RAFFAELE LANGELLA. "Sporting diplomacy is an innovative and effective way to promote our country's image around the world, and to encourage new commercial partnerships. Together, working in synergy and with team spirit, we are promoting the values of sport and Made in Italy quality." he declared. “Hosting an event like this in Malaysia leaves us feeling very confident about the revival of bilateral economic ties in major sporting events and in the motorcycle industry. Our companies, present in Sepang, are the best advertisement for Italian manufacturing. We will continue this journey, working together with leading companies in the sector to relaunch this promising partnership on two wheels between Italy and Malaysia," added Ambassador Langella.
Source, Italian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia:
https://ambkualalumpur.esteri.it/en/news/dall_ambasciata/2025/10/italy-at-sepang-2025-racing-beyond-borders-italy-and-the-motorcycle-passion/

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ICE-Italian Trade Agency: https://www.ice.it/en/

FMI-Italian Motorcycling Federation:https://www.federmoto.it/

ANCMA-Associazione Nazionale Ciclo, Motociclo, Accessori:https://www.ancma.it/