Culture, beauty, innovation and
empathy: these four words can be used to summarize the image
that Singaporeans have of Italy and its people, according to
what emerged at the ANSA Forum 'Italy meets Singapore, what they
say about us', held inside the Villaggio Italia set up on the
occasion of the stopover of the Amerigo Vespucci on the island
state.
The event was organized in collaboration with Difesa Servizi and
opened by a speech from Deputy Business and Made in Italy
Minister Valentino Valentini, who underlined the importance of
strengthening relations between two countries that have several
similarities: from the centrality in their respective
geographical areas to the density of family businesses and SMEs
that bring values ;;and traditions.
"Singapore is the gateway to Southeast Asia", Valentini said,
among other things.
And this function, he said, has an even greater value with
respect to a globalization that is increasingly assuming a
regional dimension.
The attention towards this area of ;;the world, which is among
those that are experiencing the most marked growth of their
economies, was highlighted by the CEO of ANSA, Stefano De
Alessandri.
"Next year we will celebrate the 80th anniversary of the
foundation of the Agency, which took place on January 15, 1945".
It has been a long journey that has led ANSA to enter into
collaboration agreements with about seventy other agencies and
to have a wide network of correspondents, De Alessandri noted.
Given the region's geopolitical and economic importance,
D'Alessandri observed, ANSA has strengthened its presence there,
particularly in Japan, Vietnam, Singapore and India.
Federico Donato, former president of Eurocham Singapore, defined
the country as "hospitable and easy" to do business in and with,
characteristics that in the last 20 years have increased its
centrality in parallel with the problems that arose in Hong Kong
after its return under China's control.
Entrepreneur Charity Cheah (Toni&Gay) spoke about culture,
beauty and ease of relationship building as characteristics
inherent in the DNA of Italians.
She also admitted that her years spent in Italy made her
"better".
"In the Palazzetto dello Sport in Rome in 1960, Singapore won
its first Olympic medal", then recalled Huang Eu Chai, director
of Ergo Travel, speaking of the 'alternative' destinations
towards which he directs Singaporean tourists who come to
discover Italy. Cecilia Laschi, director of the Robotics
department at the National University of Singapore, instead
spoke of how, in this Asian country, research activities started
in her sector in Italy and Europe can progress and more easily
transform into real applications.
"For robotics, this is a true paradise", she concluded.
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