ArmInfo. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, who is on an official visit to Italy, held a meeting with representatives of Italian business and investment circles in Milan on the eve of a working lunch.
According to the press service of the Prime Minister, the prospects of investment cooperation and new joint programs between Armenia and Italy were discussed at the meeting. The Prime Minister presented business opportunities in Armenia, referring to the dynamics of the development of energy, tourism, information technology and several other industries. Nikol Pashinyan noted that the government is implementing fundamental reforms in various fields, including improving the business environment, creating effective investment protection mechanisms in Armenia, and good opportunities are being created for doing business in Armenia. The head of government also spoke about the opportunities within the framework of Armenia's membership in integration structures, noting: "You can conduct business at the European level and enter the free, duty-free 180 millionth market."
Prime Minister Pashinyan also answered questions from representatives of Italian business circles regarding relations with neighboring countries, economic reforms in the republic, and Armenia-EU relations. Touching upon the possibilities within the framework of cooperation with the EU, the Prime Minister of Armenia noted that Armenian producers enjoy the preferential GSP + regime with the EU, as well as the GSP trade regime with the United States and several other countries.
Representatives of business circles of Italy welcomed the reforms carried out by the Armenian government and noted that they are interested in investing in Armenia. It was agreed to begin substantive discussions on specific programs.
The working dinner was attended by the president of the Italian investment bank Mediobanca Renato Palliaro, the head of the Rome office of Corporate and Investment banking of the investment bank Mediobanca, the executive vice president of Corporate and Investment banking Antonio Gulielmi, the co- chair of the energy group of the investment bank Mediobanca Claudia Fornaro, Fabrizio Palermo, Director General of the investment company Cassa depositi e prestiti; Luigi Ferraris, Executive Director of the Terna Investment Company; Director of the External Relations Department of the Terna Investment Company Luca Torkia.
After the meeting, the Armenian-Italian business forum "Armenia, a new reality: a platform for entering the Eurasian market" was organized by the Embassy of the Republic of Armenia in Italy, the Italian Trade Agency, Assolombarda and Mediobanca investment companies.