Ambassador of Italy Gianpaolo Scarante will meet on 31 January with representatives of the Italian business community in Turkey at an encounter to be held in Istanbul’s Palazzo di Venezia.
Taking part in the meeting will be approximately 100 business persons from all the sectors in which Italian businesses are operating in Turkey, from the more traditional ones of textiles, food and machinery, to strategic ones such as banking, automotive, energy, defence industry and infrastructure, and innovative ones (new infrastructure and environmental technologies). Also present will be the heads of Italian institutions in Turkey: the Consul General in Istanbul, Consul of Izmir, Directors of the Istanbul and Ankara Cultural Institutes, Director of the Istanbul ICE office, Presidents of the Italian Chambers of Commerce of Istanbul and Izmir and Honorary Consuls.
Scarante will trace a general picture of the Turkish economy, pointing out its strong potential for further Italian penetration in light of positive 2011 data that, despite the persistence of several structural weakness in the Turkish system, confirmed its having overcome the economic crisis. An increasing number of Italian firms and corporations are being added to the already 900 already present there (consisting of both large groups engaged in infrastructure projects as well as small and midsize firms that have chosen this country to internationalise their activities), attracted to the size and dynamism of its market, the presence of a qualified work force and its role as a bridge to the new markets of the Middle East, Caucasus and Central Asia. The Italian institutions present in Turkey materially sustain these interests and actively contribute to staging various entrepreneurial missions.
The Ambassador will also reassure the business persons of the economic overhaul being carried out by the Monti government with measures that will contribute to the country’s growth and competitiveness. Italy ranks 8th among world economies and is Europe’s 2nd largest manufacturer, with a solid macroeconomic foundation flanked by a solid banking system and stable real estate market.
The Ambassador will also announce the publication in 2012 of “Orizzontitaliani” (Italian Horizons): a dense calendar of events and initiatives in the economic/trade, cultural and scientific sectors, which intends to enhance Italy’s overall image in Turkey, with the involvement of institutions and companies.
