FROM EIR DAILY ALERT
Italian Finance Minister Dubs Belt and Road as ‘Driver’ for Italy’s— and the World’s—Economy
Dec. 11, 2018 (EIRNS)—Speaking at the first “Asia-Europe Leaders’ Cooperation Dialogue” conference in Rome Dec. 5, Italian Finance Minister Giovanni Tria gave an excellent speech on what the Belt and Road Initiative is and what the opportunities for Italy are. This was the first such event organized by the Boao Forum for Asia and Studio Ambrosetti, which have set up a joint platform. Tria’s speech was posted to the site of the Italian Economy Ministry.
“Italy must be actively involved in the process (of BRI) integration not only to realize all possible advantages of participating in major infrastructural projects, but also in the longer term to maintain a strategic position in the trade routes of the BRI,”
Tria said.
“The BRI is a train that Italy must not miss. Italian companies’ participation in projects, including those in collaboration with Chinese companies in third country markets, are particularly important.”
China Daily noted:
“For Tria, Italy’s BRI engagement vision is clear and structured on the three levels of direct infrastructural engagement, geographical connection and growing exports to emerging markets along the BRI trade routes.
“Firstly, he encouraged Italian companies in the sectors of consulting, feasibility studies, design, engineering, logistics, machinery, construction, monitoring and IT, security, financial and insurance services to actively seek deals on BRI infrastructure projects.
“Secondly, he said Italy should strengthen its ports facilities and efficiency so they could leverage on Italy’s geographical location between Asia, Europe and Africa to handle more trade flowing between these regions.
“Thirdly, Italian companies, particularly in the sectors of agriculture and food, sustainable technologies, pharmaceuticals, tourism and design sectors, should consider the growing consumption power of new BRI markets’ and the allied opportunity to strengthen exports....
“Between 1977-1979, as a young student at the Sapienza University of Rome, Tria went to Beijing to complete an economic research project, and stayed to gain work experience with a publisher in Beijing. Recollecting his first impressions of China, he said: ‘It was an important country, with a very old culture, which needed to develop its economy....
“Looking back, he said it was China’s long-term policy vision that played a key role in fuelling its economic miracle. ‘It is possible for China to set a strategy, and implement that strategy, that long term vision and consistency is crucial.”
