ST. PETERSBURG, May 23, (RIA Novosti) - Partnership between Russia and Italy has ample opportunities with a number of Italian companies invited to work in Russia, members of Russian and Italian business communities concluded at the business breakfast during St. Petersburg Internstional Economic Forum (SPIEF).
"This year we are going to strengthen out cooperation among small and medium-size enterprises, business meetings will be held all throughout this year," Luisa Todini, President of Todini company said. "Our task is to strengthen cultural and economic dialogue," she noted.
According to Vladimir Dmitriev, Chairman of the State Corporation Bank for Development and Foreign Economic Affairs, the two countries have developed the atmosphere of mutual trust in bilateral relations needed for the two countries to prosper.
"Our cooperation is consolidating in various directions," Dmitriev said, adding that at the interstate forum in Trieste last November the two countries signed over 20 agreements that significantly cemented the bilateral ties.
Vladimir Dmitriev also said that there are over 500 Italian companies working in Russia.
Vladimir Potemkin, Deputy Governor of the Kaluga region stressed the region's successful implementation of state-private partnership strategy which allowed Kaluga to develop strong automobile and pharmaceutical clusters and invited Italian partners to develop hospitality services in the region. He aldo added that Kaluga region is building two airports on its territory that will open in two years. Potemkin also encouraged Italian investors by saying that the administrative barriers in Kaluga region are being constantly reduced.
Sergei Cheremin, Head of the Moscow's Department for Foreign Economic and International Relations, said Italy has become the fourth largest trade partner of Moscow last year, including in real estate development, construction of the metro system as well as railroads. Moreover, according to Cheremin, Moscow and Rome are going to sign a partnership program to share experience in educational and healthcare systems.
