KARACHI: The Italian Navy sailing ship Amerigo Vespucci, said to be the most beautiful sailing ship in the world, arrived at Karachi port on Saturday.
Amerigo Vespucci left the Port of Genoa on July 1, 2023. Karachi happens to be its 29th stop. It arrived here after its previous port visit in Mumbai.
The ship brings with it culture, history, innovation, science, research and technology. Being a training ship, it combines traditional activity of officer cadets with Italian excellence.
While speaking to the media on the Amerigo Vespucci’s docking in Karachi, Italian Ambassador to Pakistan Marlina Armellin said that it was a matter of national pride for her to welcome yet again an Italian ship.
“This is the fourth visit of an Italian navy ship in the last three years,” she said, while reminding that only two months ago they had welcomed the Italian Navy Carrier Strike Group, comprised of the aircraft carrier Cavour and frigate Alpino.
“This is a testament of the friendship that unite our two countries, Italy and Pakistan and a testament to the fact that Italy is ready to boost relationship that unites us,” said Ambassador Armellin.
“Trade between our two countries reaches $2 billion per year. But we believe that there is room for even greater expansion. We are there and committed to make this shift towards more commercial ties. We recently opened the office of the trade commissioner in Islamabad to boost trade between the two countries,” she added.
The historic, 93-year-old training ship, Amerigo Vespucci, guardian of the most ancient naval and seafaring traditions, is currently on its second circumnavigation around the world (its first world tour was in 2002 to 2003) where it is visiting 36 ports in 32 different countries in 20 months.
