Events
Congress and Exhibition Activity / News
Krasnodar Region was one of five regions in which events of the Russian-Italian Forum, begun in Moscow, took place
In the congress hall of the KrasnodarExpo exhibition centre this forum brought together more than 300 businessmen from the Italian Republic, Krasnodar Region, including Sochi, and Rostov Region. The Italian delegation was led by First Secretary for the Economy of the Embassy of Italy in Moscow, Lorenzio Fanara. It included representatives of 70 companies in the industrial, construction, agricultural, banking and consulting fields, as well as various institutions of state support to Italian business.
Opening the Russian-Italian conference in Krasnodar First Vice Governor Dzhambulat Khatuov noted:
‘Italy is a long time reliable strategic partner of the Kuban. Our cooperation is developing briskly: over the last five years the foreign trade turnover has grown by five times and last year exceeded $560 million. In relations between Krasnodar Region and Italy today there is not only the interest of business partners, but also the warmth of good old friends. We help Italian and Russian businessmen to find the shortest path to each other and to joint projects.'
Dzhambulat Khatuov gave detailed information to the Italian businessmen on the advantages of doing business in the Region and the best investment projects in the industrial, agricultural, and construction sectors, as well as on export proposals by Kuban businesses.
It has to be noted that Krasnodar Region has been presenting its investment opportunities to Italian business for the last five years. Over this time dozens of investment agreements have been signed at forums and presentations, as well as agreements on bilateral cooperation between our region and the Province of Milan and the region of Calabria. Representations of Krasnodar Region are in successful operation in the regions of Lombardy and Reggio-Emilia. In August last year an Honourary Italian Consulate was opened in Krasnodar.
Today in the Kuban around twenty companies with Italian investment are successfully carrying out their business, as well as a range of investment projects. Cooperation is being developed in agriculture, furniture production, shoe production and timber processing.
And this is only the beginning. The Italians are ready to build new businesses and undertake large construction in the Kuban, as well as building Olympic facilities in Sochi and roads and a port in Taman.
During the Forum in the Kuban capital the Italian businessmen carried out more than 700 meetings with representatives of business in the Kuban. At these meetings each Forum delegate was able to present their own business and find potential business partners.
The new partners now have the opportunity to meet more frequently. A contract has already been signed to organise air transport between Adler and Krasnaya Polyana. Direct flights between Italy and Krasnodar are just round the corner. Representatives of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs are also ready to strengthen Italian-Russian economic partnership: Italian businessmen will now be able to get visas to Russia, which means to the Kuban, more quickly.
