64 June 2013 businessmen coming back to Bahrain,” says Ambassador Vecchi, noting the large presence of Italian companies at the recently held agriculture fair in Bahrain. Italian players are currently involved in executing the North Manama Causeway project as well as some projects for the Ministry of Works. “Clean energy and especially the renewable energy sector is an area where Italian companies are actively scouting for opportunities in the region. There’s sufficient scope for Bahrain to work with Italy in its implementation of a sound environmental policy,” he believes. The Italian community in Bahrain may be small, with around 350 members, but what’s significant is that a part of this population chooses to live in Bahrain even though many are employed in Saudi Arabia. “Bahrain has distinguished itself in the region through the extremely high quality of life it offers. The open access it provides to Saudi Arabia, and the warm, welcoming and tolerant local population, make it an ideal base for doing business in the region,” he observes. Human rights training is another important arena where the two countries have been working together in recent times. Around 130 officials from Bahrain, including judges, prosecutors and policemen underwent training in international procedures in prosecution of crimes at Sicily’s International Institute of Higher Studies in Criminal Science between May last year and April 2013. Culture connect A consequence of bilateral trade ties is the demand for cultural activities and events centred around Italy in the Kingdom. Ambassador Vecchi lauds efforts by the Ministry of Culture to promote Italian culture and entertainment in Bahrain. “The new national theatre is an astonishing building and it’s heartening to see Italian opera, orchestra and jazz troupes performing in Bahrain with such regularity. Thanks to the efforts of the Ministry of Culture, people in Italy have become increasingly aware of Arab culture,” he says. Ambassador Vecchi is counting on support from the Italian Bahraini Friendship Association and the Italian Arab Chamber of Commerce in forging closer bilateral and trade ties over the coming years. Italy’s Ambassador to Bahrain, His Excellency Alberto Vecchi, is a native of Modena, an ancient town that’s distinguished itself as the base for some of the best known Italian sports car manufacturers, including Ferrari, Lamborghini and Maserati. Given the solid small and medium enterprises (SME) background of his hometown, it is perhaps no surprise that economic and bilateral ties are uppermost on his mind. Bilateral relations are based on reciprocal interests and Bahrain’s trade with Italy has been modest so far, hovering around €200 million annually. Italy is Bahrain’s 13th largest trading partner, exporting cars, machinery, fashion merchandise and textiles to the Kingdom in exchange for petroleum products and iron and steel. “The status quo that had prevailed after the 2008 economic crisis and more recently, following the unrest of 2011, is beginning to change. I’m sensing the interest from Italian italyinbahrain xxxxx The new national theatre is an astonishing building and it’s heartening to see Italian opera, orchestra and jazz troupes performing in Bahrain Renewing Commitment SIMI KAMBOJ It may have started small, but the meaningful engagement between Italy and Bahrain is set to deepen in the coming years. His Excellency Alberto Vecchi www.bahrainthismonth.com
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