Russia–Italy
KEY CONCLUSIONS
Pandemic had no negative impact on economic relations between Russia and Italy
“Our relationship continues to improve despite the difficult period. Particular attention was paid during the pandemic, but now the conditions allow us to improve our competitiveness, and thanks to exports, we have also managed to overcome difficulties. Cooperation with our partners in Russia is developing, and we can compete in the global market, including with products made in Russia,” Marco Tronchetti Provera, Chief Executive Officer, Executive Vice Chairman, Pirelli & C SpA.
“I see that the economic situation in Russia is relatively good, given the impact of COVID on the economy. I think that production investments serve as a proof for this. It gives us tremendous opportunities, in particular for our exports, especially in terms of orders for our companies. I think the Italian business community is jointly advocating for sustainable development in Russia,” Pasquale Terracciano, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Italian Republic to the Russian Federation.
“In this difficult period, as well as many other countries, we have faced a lot of hardships. There was a powerful reaction to these hardships from both the authorities and the business community, both in relation to us, Italians working in Russia, and in relation to their industrialists. We closely cooperated with our staff, the client, and Gazprom. We sat at the same table, there were many working groups, we did not stop for a minute, and this is the evidence of the strength of our relationship,” Fabrizio Di Amato, Chairman, Maire Tecnimont SpA.
“I think it is a good start for Russian-Italian business cooperation to become the locomotive for cooperation between the European Union and the Eurasian Economic Union, including Russia, and the locomotive for cooperation in Greater Eurasia. It does not end in Vladivostok, although it begins in Lisbon, this probably includes China, India, and the countries of the Asia-Pacific region. We would like the cooperation paradigms that are being created bilaterally to be transformed into a wider format,” Alexander Shokhin, President, Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (RSPP).
PROBLEMS
Economic difficulties in relations between Russia and Italy still exist, including those connected with the geopolitical situation
“I think all Italian companies have a positive view of the prospects for the development of their activities in your country. At the same time, we hope that geopolitical risks will be moderate, and this will contribute to our success,” Pasquale Terracciano, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Italian Republic to the Russian Federation.
“An urgent problem is the resumption of the work of the Green Corridor (a customs cooperation project between the Russian Federation and Italy). The agreement was signed back in November 2013 by Enrico Letta [ex-Prime Minister of Italy] and Vladimir Putin. <...> I would like to appeal to all of you, the main players in trade relations between Russia and Italy… to unite our efforts in the upcoming months, to work out specific proposals, including from our side, in order to promote a number of initiatives for deepening and restarting the process of more comprehensive interaction not only in Italy, but also in Europe,” Antonio Fallico, President, Conoscere Eurasia Association; Chairman of the Board of Directors, Banca Intesa.
“We cannot deny difficulties. But we will continue searching for points of contact and shared opportunities for cooperation. And together with Russian entrepreneurs we will try to suggest ways of improving this cooperation to our governments,” Marco Tronchetti Provera, Chief Executive Officer, Executive Vice Chairman, Pirelli & C SpA.
SOLUTIONS
Science and social welfare projects will help tackle tensions in relationships with Europe
“We would like the new directions come to the foreground. They are related to digitalization, healthcare, education. Moreover, we see these areas as non-politicized, for which there will be no geopolitical bans on the part of Brussels. It is important that we have something to say in these areas. In healthcare, Italy became one of the first European countries to register a Russian vaccine against COVID-19 and is ready to launch its production. This also indicates that we move faster than other countries and it is not that we do not notice certain limitations – we successfully overcome them,” Alexander Shokhin, President, Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (RSPP).
“Solutions that are still to be implemented need to be confirmed by contacts with the international scientific and research community. We have close contacts with our Italian colleagues. <…> For us, this partnership is critical. Because it is only through collaboration, through sharing knowledge and opinions, that students can achieve the required level to always be competitive in relation to advanced solutions,” Victor Vekselberg, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology (SkolTech); Chairman of the Board of Directors, Renova Group.
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