Singapore calls Italy, 'culture and beauty in your DNA'

(ANSA) - ROME, OCT 25 - 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. (ANSA).