On October 6, 2025, Nico Frandi will be the Consul General of Italy stationed in Philadelphia. The consular territory of Philadelphia includes the following states: Pennsylvania, Delaware, North Carolina, West Virginia, Maryland (except for the counties of Prince George and Montgomery), Virginia (except for the counties of Fairfax and Arlington), New Jersey (only the counties of Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Ocean and Salem).
MESSAGE TO OUR COMPATRIOTS
My Fellow Italians
It is with great honor and a deep sense of responsibility, pride and enthusiasm, that I assume my post of Consul General in Philadelphia.
Our jurisdiction includes seven US States encompassing a vast consular territory. Ours is a dynamic and vibrant community of Italian men and women of every background and social status, often defined by great personal and professional achievements, an enterprising spirit and a fearless ability to undertake and adapt to a variety of challenges. Thanks to your invaluable and resolute contributions, we have enjoyed much success, and will continue to do so as we continually recognize Italian excellence. Excellence in creations, innovations and an extraordinary variety of talents, all of which distinguish Italy as the “Bel Paese”.
In thanking those who preceded me for such excellent work and together with the staff of the Consulate General, the Honorary Consulates, the Comites and the various Associations, I intend to serve this Community with dedication and commitment.
Firstly, together with my consular staff, my objective is that of assuring and continually improving the efficiency of our consular services to our Italian nationals and to all citizens, whether residing in our consular jurisdiction or just here temporarily. Secondly, we must guarantee all possible assistance to our nationals who require or request our help. Thirdly, I will dedicate my energies to promoting and to ultimately strengthening the solid friendship that already exists between Italy and Philadelphia, and between Italy and the entire consular jurisdiction. A relationship that already enjoys various Sister City Twinning and various collaborations in a multitude of fields.
The promotion of Italy involves the weaving, support and preserving of solid political, historical, cultural and artistic connections; the ever-expanding economic and commercial relationships; academic and scientific collaborations; the teaching of the Italian language and the expansion of linguistic exchanges. Essential to the success of this objective is coordinating closely with our Embassy in Washington along with the entire consular network in the Unites States, as well as the Offices of the Italian Trade Commission.
The Consulate General is and will be a point of reference for you and will be open to your requests and welcomes your ideas and suggestions. It will be our mutual home.
In extending a warm greeting to you all, I know I can count on your support and on the constructive and dynamic contribution from each one of you.
Nico Frandi
Consul General of Italy in Philadelphia
Nico Frandi – Short Biography
Career Diplomat with 25 + years of professional experience. Served in one bilateral post and five multilateral posts. In Kuwait (2004-2008), at the time of the Coalition of the Willing’s intervention in Iraq where he acted also as Focal Point within the NATO-Istanbul Cooperation Initiative. In Brussels, at the Policy Unit of the European Council (2004), and in the European External Action Service – Non Proliferation and Disarmament Directory (2011-2015), where he established a vast network across the full spectrum of the European Institutions; in Geneva, first as Human Rights Officer (2008-2011), and subsequently as Deputy Permanent Representative of Italy to the WTO (2015 – 2020). In Paris, where he served as a Counselor within the Permanent Representation of Italy to the OECD and other IOs, following trade, competition, environment, health including animal health, public governance, regional and local development, wine and viticulture (OIV) and civil aviation (ECAC).
Finally, in Rome. He served as Head of Unit for Trade Defense and Access to Markets within the Directorate General for Europe and International Trade Policy. In that capacity he chaired the G7 Economic Coercion Coordination Platform during the Italian Presidency in 2024.
He holds a University degree in Political Science with a major in international relations and public affairs; graduated with honor at the University of Florence, with a thesis on The Control of Uranium as an International Political Problem 1939-1954. He attended two exchange programs with King’s College, London (1997) and Georgetown University, Washington D.C. (1998). Formerly a Navy Officer of the Marina Militare Italiana, he is a Fulbrighter (visiting scholar at Columbia University in 2001), a Cavaliere della Repubblica italiana since 2017, and the recipient of several scholarships and fellowships with the EUI and the UN.
Author of eight articles related to the various fields of the diplomatic activity covered so far, he is an art addicted and he enjoys swimming and sailing.
With Italian as his mother tongue, he is fluent in English and French, and has an intermediate knowledge of Spanish.
