According to Mr. Yakovenko, the Year of Italy will feature a series of specialized exhibitions and advertisement campaigns in Moscow, St. Petersburg and other major Russian cities.
Italy will host a seminar on Russian privatization and organizational reform to attract Italian investments to the Russian economy.
Mr. Yakovenko also said there were plans to hold a Russian national manufacturer exhibition entitled The Russian-Italian Trade and Economic Cooperation: Realities and Prospects to Promote Russian-made Products in Italy.
Mr. Yakovenko also noted that Italy ranked third among Russia's western European trade partners, adding that Russian-Italian dialog has been "an ever-growing positive factor in European and global politics."
Mr. Fini will be making his first trip to Moscow as Italian Foreign Minister, having assumed office in November 2004.
