Minister Tajani chaired the working table for Italian companies operating in Russia

This morning Italy's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Antonio Tajani chaired a meeting of the working table for Italian companies operating in Russia.

The meeting was attended by the heads of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the President of the Italian Trade Agency (ITA) Matteo Zoppas, officials from the Italian Ministry of Economy and Finance, from the Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy, and from Confindustria, ABI, Confapi, and Filiera Italia, as well as companies with considerable investments in the Russian Federation. The Italian Embassy in Moscow and the heads of Italian business associations in Russia also attended.

"I decided to organise this meeting - convened following the recent measures taken by the Russian Government against a number of foreign companies, including Ariston Thermo Group - because the Italian Government, which has always been supportive of Italian companies operating abroad, is firmly convinced that dialogue with the business world and trade associations is now of crucial importance to deal with the complex situation with Russia," the Deputy Prime Minister commented, adding that, "President Meloni has taken a direct interest in the issue and all the competent Ministries are at work. The Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has taken immediate action in Rome, Brussels and Moscow."

Minister Tajani mentioned the actions currently being studied, first and foremost at European level, to obtain compensation for those companies impacted by measures similar to those that have affected Ariston and other European companies. Regarding the frozen Russian assets, he reaffirmed that the Italian Government has always adopted a very balanced attitude, taking into account the interests of Italian business.

Tajani also invited the attending companies to consider the meeting as the opening of a permanent round table and expressed his intention to convene a further meeting with companies dedicated to the situation in the Red Sea.