May 29, within  the Days of Moscow in Milan was held  an economic forum "Moscow - Milan 2014. Challenge, Solutions and Prospects ", which dealt with issues of economic, investment and technological cooperation between Russia and Italy.

Luigi Molinari, the  representative of the Board of the Chamber of Commerce of Milan, noted that the business forum in the Days of Moscow in Milan plays an important role in the development of relations between the two countries, "Milan is a showcase of  Italy, the capital of fashion and design. But economic relations  are also very important for us. Cultural links can be the basis of business contacts between the capitals of Russia and Lombardy. "

" Significant and similar in size  problems facing our cities: Milan will hold the World Exhibition" Expo-2015 ", and Moscow  will hold FIFA World Cup in 2018" - added Mr. Molinari.

Moscow delegation was  headed by Minister of Moscow Government, Head of the Department for External Economic and International Relations Sergei Cheremin. He  presented at the forum  with the presentation of investment opportunities of the Russian capital. According to Sergei Cheremin, gross regional product in Moscow today is more than 380 billion dollars and comparable to GRP of Austria and  large  cities in Europe and  in the world. The Head of  DEEIR  also noted that the development of trade and economic relations between Russia and Italy has a strategic character. Italy traditionally has been one of the most important trade partners of Moscow and in recent years it holds a place in the top five in terms of mutual trade among the foreign partners of the Russian capital.

The forum was attended by over 180 people. From the Russian side of the Forum there  were: Suren Vardanyan, Vice-president of the Moscow Chamber of Commerce (MCCI), Vladimir Gutenev, first deputy of the  Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Industry, first deputy of the Chairman of the Russian Engineering Union; Michael Vyshegorodtsev business ombudsman of the Moscow, Konstantin Krokhin, The Chairman of the MCCI Commission  on international  trade  cooperation with partners in  Italian Republic, Sergei Orehanov, "Network Group"  GD and other participants.

 The Italian side  of the Forum was represented by Claudio Rotti, President of ICE, Alessandrello Rosario, President of the Italian-Russian Chamber of Commerce in Moscow and Milan, Franco D'Alfonso, Adviser on trade and tourism of  Milan City Hall, Maurizio Tsukketti, Head of the bank «Banco Popolare» in Moscow, Giovanni De Ponti, DG of the Italian Federation of wood and furniture Industry "Federleno Arredo" and other participants.

 The  agreement on cooperation between the Moscow Chamber of Commerce and the Chamber of Commerce of Milan was signed during the Forum. From  the MCCI side  agreement was  signed by the Vice-President of the MCCI Suren Vardanyan,  from the Milan Chamber of Commerce it  was signed by Vice President of Technical and Scientific Committee of the internationalization Promos Chamber of Commerce of Milan Claudio Rotti and by  board member of the Chamber of Commerce of Milan, Luigi Amato Molinari. The purpose of the agreement is to facilitate trade and economic integration, the establishment and strengthening of direct business contacts between commercial, financial, industrial and scientific institutions and enterprises, which are members of CCI Milan and MCCI. According  the agreement, CCI of the two cities will help to attract investments into the economy of Moscow and Milan, to participate in the creation of the joint expert groups and other local experts to share experiences, participate in the organization of scientific, practical and thematic activities intensify attracting private investment in priority projects.

Plenary session continued in the format of panel sessions devoted to the topics: "Banking and Finance", "Investments and Real Estate", "Infrastructure and Transportation" and others.  The Chairman of the MCCI Commission  on international  trade  cooperation with partners in  Italian Republic Mr.  Konstantin   Krokhin   also made ​​a presentation on investment opportunities in New Moscow.

Konstantin Krokhin talked about large-scale transformations in the Moscow metropolitan area, about the Moscow Government's plans for developing of transport and social infrastructure, about the involvement  of Italian companies with advanced energy-saving and “green-building technologies,  and competence in the field of architecture and design.  Mr. Krokhin mentioned examples of  successful Russian-Italian cooperation in the industrial field: the construction of the automobile plant in Togliatti on the basis of models of the Fiat Group, the establishment of modern systems of the refining industry in Bashkortostan and Tatarstan in the USSR. The Italian-Russian Chamber of Commerce, which celebrated  the fiftieth anniversary, and personally, Mr. President IRCC Rosario Allesandrello  have made an invaluable contribution to the implementation of such projects . Among the achievements of the present time mr. Krohkin  mentioned projects in the field of high-tech: the joint development and production of modern aircraft Sukhoi Superjet, helicopter Augusta Westland -139, as well as the participation of Italian experts in the projects of transformation of the urban environment - Architectural Bureau LAND (park in the Hodynka), NEKSIAR ( "Italian village " project), EUROAMBENTE (Landscape Architecture). Emphasizing  the significant mutual interest, Konstantin  Krokhin pointed  the audience's attention to the uniqueness of the moment, when the prevailing international economic situation and the political situation objectively contributing to the convergence of entrepreneurs of the two countries, the development of mutually beneficial cooperation and industrial cooperation on a wide range of sectors and activities. Assessing the pragmatism of the Italians, Mr. Krokhin, at the same time, allowed himself  some criticism to the Italian partners, who are not always actively use existing favorable investment and operational business opportunities in Russia and in particular in Moscow.

Taking this opportunity, Konstantin Krokhin told about the low rates of taxation for small and medium businesses in Moscow and about  reducing of  administrative barriers. Also he encouraged to actively participate in tenders for the procurement of goods for state and municipal needs, the implementation of infrastructure projects, bigger promote their products and services in the production of building materials, industrial and domestic manufacturing equipment, medical equipment, which are of high quality and reasonable price.

In his report, Konstantin Krokhin informed the Italian  audience about the plan of modernization of the Russian economy, enunciated by the President of Russia Vladimir  Putin at the St. Petersburg Economic Forum. Among the most important measures, which are  included in the plan, there are  supporting  the creation of joint ventures, localization of production, the widespread introduction of energy saving technologies, the creation of mechanisms of guaranteed sales of high-tech products. This plan primarily affects those areas, where the position of Italian companies are traditionally strong.

The event was widely covered in the Russian and the Italian press.

Italian media:

http://it.rbth.com/economia/2014/05/30/milano_mercato_chiave_per_la_russia_31273.html
http://it.rbth.com/societa/2014/05/30/la_moda_russa_porta_il_cinema_italiano_in_passerella_31265.html
http://it.rbth.com/economia/2014/05/31/trasporti_mosca_impara_da_milano_31281.html

Russian media:

http://www.soyuzmash.ru/news/moskva-milan-2014-vyzovy-resheniya-i-perspektivy
http://pr.adcontext.net/14/05/30/176645
http://moscow-italy.org/ru/meropriyatiya/moskva-milan-2014-vyzovy-resheniya-i-perspektivy/