Round-Table Discussion with Ambassador of Italy in RF (Photo-report)
November, 29, 2004, conference-hall of the Italian Business Desk in Nizhny Novgorod (Semashko street, 5-B) was hosting a round-table discussion for local businessmen, related to development of Russian-Italian business co-operation. The event was arranged by IBD within the programme of one-day visit of the Italian mission headed by the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Italy in Russian Federation Mr. Gianfranco Facco Bonetti.
Italian side was also represented by First Trade Councillor Mr. Pier Francesco Zazo, Vice-Director of Italian Foreign Trade Institute (Moscow branch) Mrs. Simona Mussolino and Director of Moscow office "Promos" of Milan Chamber of Commerce and Industry and representative of Lombardy in Moscow Mr. Sergio Comizzoli.
Nizhny Novgorod region was represented by JSC "Nizhny Novgorod Machine-building Plant", JSC "Teploobmennik", Nizhny Novgorod Aircraft-building Plant "Sokol", JSC "Concern Thermal", JSC "Ton", JSC "Tiko-Plastic", JSC "Rosbiomedica", Educational-scientific centre of engineering at NSTU, JSC "Electron-N", JSC "ROS.T" and other local enterprises, working in co-operation with Italy. The round table was also attended by representatives of the Nizhny Novgorod Association of Industrials and Entrepreneurs (NAPP) and Nizhny Novgorod State Technical University.
In the openings speech Mr. Bonetti said, that he arrived to Nizhny Novgorod to take a closer look at the region for further development of the economic co-operation. It has been his second visit to Nizhny Novgorod, and, according to Mr. Bonetti, within 13 years that have passed since his first visit, local economy, industry and city view have improved considerably. Mr. Bonetti has also informed the audience about the future changes in issuing entry visas to Italy. According to him, Russian businessmen will soon be able to receive multi-entry visas to Italy (covering all the Schengen zone), valid for five years. He considers it a major contribution to further development of Russian-Italian business contacts.
Following the short keynote speeches of the Italian mission members, local entrepreneurs took the floor. They voiced a number of action-oriented business proposals, ranging from import of Italian industrial equipment to investment projects for starting joint production of consumer goods in Nizhny Novgorod region. They also took the opportunity to enquire Mr. Bonetti about the procedure of issuing entry visas for business trips to Italy. Vice-Director of NAPP B. V. Telegin made a suggestion to arrange a business meeting for Russian and Italian SMEs in the next year.
Summarizing the meeting, the sides has exchanged with information materials and agreed on future contacts.
