Italian companies operate in Crimea despite sanctions
Italian businesses are already busy rolling-out a wide range of
business projects in Crimea, in spite of the official sanctions processes, said
an MP from the Veneto Regional Parliament, Signor Stefano Valdegamberi – who
has arrived in Simferopol as a member of an Italian delegation.
"The business leaders and entrepreneurs who have arrived with our delegations don't always go public with this, but a good number of them are already operating in Crimea – particularly in delivering wine-making equipment to the region. The situation requires us to operate in an intelligent manner, and so I am unable to name the specific people involved”, said Signor Valdegamberi.
Signor Valdegamberi reported that the Italian business figures had arrived in Crimea with the intention of getting detailed local information on the business climate, and the business opportunities which the region offers.
"Italian businesses who are working in the Russian market are particularly interested in Crimea, and have begun to invest in the region. A particular aspect defines the business leaders who have come in our delegation – they don't just want to sell some stuff in Crimea, but begin production of goods here themselves. They've come now to check out how things work here in detail”, the Veneto Parliament MP confirmed.
Roberto Penazzi - a prominent Italian wine technology expert with a background in industry crisis management - mentioned that the Italian business leaders had come to Crimea with specific aims of establishing business contacts and looking into opportunities for collaboration.
"Our purpose in coming is to establish business contacts with Crimean business leaders, particular in the fields of agriculture, food production, wine-making, and manufacturing. We want to find out more about the problems we might face if we begin business, and how those problems could be avoided. The political situation here is clearly not ideal for setting up business or collaboration, but we hope things will improve. We'll be working on them to overcome the difficulties, and created a better playing field. We'll be looking for every opportunity that arises, and do everything we can – particularly in business”, said Signor Penazzi.
Attempts to derail the visit
Stefano Valdegamberi explained how the politicians and business leaders in the Italian delegation had been subjected to attempts by Ukrainian diplomats to prevent the trip from taking place.
"Warning letters were sent by the Ukrainian Consul”, Valdegamberi related. "I didn't get one of these letters myself, but my colleagues did. The letters mentioned my visit to Crimea in April this year, when I took part in the Yalta International Economic Forum. The letters told people not to copy me, and not go to Crimea.”
Roberto Penazzi mentioned the same letters, saying that he had received one from the Ukrainian Consul. The letter went on to threaten that if Signor Penazzi ignored it and went ahead with his Crimean visit, then a legal case would be opened against him under Ukrainian law. The Consul recommended 'abandoning this mission' and not to fly to Crimea.
The delegation members then produced a copy of one of the letters, which had been sent by the Ukrainian Consul-General in Milan, Mr Roman Goryainov – to the Chair of the Emilia-Romagna Regional Parliament, Dr Simonetta Saliera. Goryainov took the opportunity of the letter to stress that if the trip went ahead, it would contravene Article 332 of Clause 1 of the Ukrainian Criminal Codex ('organisation of illegal crossing of the Ukrainian border') – an offence which carries a penalty of imprisonment for between 2 to 5 years.
Stefano Valdegamberi went on to say that such activity can only be viewed as a direct personal threat against the members of the delegation. "A Consul of a foreign nation should not allow himself to become embroiled in the activities of parliamentarians of another country”, said Signor Valdegamberi.
For Media accreditation, and to arrange interviews with the participants, please contact:
Tel: +7 812 645 55 51, +7 (365) 423 06 90, +7 (978) 900 28 08
E-mail: [email protected]
www.forumyalta.com
FACTFILE
"The business leaders and entrepreneurs who have arrived with our delegations don't always go public with this, but a good number of them are already operating in Crimea – particularly in delivering wine-making equipment to the region. The situation requires us to operate in an intelligent manner, and so I am unable to name the specific people involved”, said Signor Valdegamberi.
Signor Valdegamberi reported that the Italian business figures had arrived in Crimea with the intention of getting detailed local information on the business climate, and the business opportunities which the region offers.
"Italian businesses who are working in the Russian market are particularly interested in Crimea, and have begun to invest in the region. A particular aspect defines the business leaders who have come in our delegation – they don't just want to sell some stuff in Crimea, but begin production of goods here themselves. They've come now to check out how things work here in detail”, the Veneto Parliament MP confirmed.
Roberto Penazzi - a prominent Italian wine technology expert with a background in industry crisis management - mentioned that the Italian business leaders had come to Crimea with specific aims of establishing business contacts and looking into opportunities for collaboration.
"Our purpose in coming is to establish business contacts with Crimean business leaders, particular in the fields of agriculture, food production, wine-making, and manufacturing. We want to find out more about the problems we might face if we begin business, and how those problems could be avoided. The political situation here is clearly not ideal for setting up business or collaboration, but we hope things will improve. We'll be working on them to overcome the difficulties, and created a better playing field. We'll be looking for every opportunity that arises, and do everything we can – particularly in business”, said Signor Penazzi.
Attempts to derail the visit
Stefano Valdegamberi explained how the politicians and business leaders in the Italian delegation had been subjected to attempts by Ukrainian diplomats to prevent the trip from taking place.
"Warning letters were sent by the Ukrainian Consul”, Valdegamberi related. "I didn't get one of these letters myself, but my colleagues did. The letters mentioned my visit to Crimea in April this year, when I took part in the Yalta International Economic Forum. The letters told people not to copy me, and not go to Crimea.”
Roberto Penazzi mentioned the same letters, saying that he had received one from the Ukrainian Consul. The letter went on to threaten that if Signor Penazzi ignored it and went ahead with his Crimean visit, then a legal case would be opened against him under Ukrainian law. The Consul recommended 'abandoning this mission' and not to fly to Crimea.
The delegation members then produced a copy of one of the letters, which had been sent by the Ukrainian Consul-General in Milan, Mr Roman Goryainov – to the Chair of the Emilia-Romagna Regional Parliament, Dr Simonetta Saliera. Goryainov took the opportunity of the letter to stress that if the trip went ahead, it would contravene Article 332 of Clause 1 of the Ukrainian Criminal Codex ('organisation of illegal crossing of the Ukrainian border') – an offence which carries a penalty of imprisonment for between 2 to 5 years.
Stefano Valdegamberi went on to say that such activity can only be viewed as a direct personal threat against the members of the delegation. "A Consul of a foreign nation should not allow himself to become embroiled in the activities of parliamentarians of another country”, said Signor Valdegamberi.
For Media accreditation, and to arrange interviews with the participants, please contact:
Tel: +7 812 645 55 51, +7 (365) 423 06 90, +7 (978) 900 28 08
E-mail: [email protected]
www.forumyalta.com
FACTFILE
The delegation of Italian politicians and business
leaders has come to Crimea in order to develop collaboration in economic,
cultural and other spheres. The program of the visit features meetings with the
Crimean Republic's leading figures, and meetings in the City of Sevastopol;
signing accords; business negotiations; discovering more about the work of
commercial companies in Crimea and how business projects may be set up there;
and the business climate in the region today. The delegation numbers 19 people.
This makes it the largest group of foreign politicians and business leaders to
have visited Crimea from countries of the European Union since the moment that
Crimea was reunited with Russia.
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