"Our two Countries share a deep love for culture and are proud of their ancient cultural roots and I believe this explains the excellence of our bilateral relations in all fields," Giampaolo Cutillo said.

"Allow me first all to say that I have accepted with great enthusiasm my appointment as Ambassador of Italy to Azerbaijan. It is a great honor for me to serve in a Country where Italy enjoys such a great popularity and a widespread sympathy," the ambassador said.

According to Cutillo, these relations have definitely reached a new height, thanks to the recent visit to Baku of Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta.

We are definitely committed to strengthen our trade and economic cooperation, as well as the interaction between our respective business communities, the ambassador said concerning the measures to further intensify contacts between business circles of the two countries.

"Today, energy is the milestone of our partnership and Italy has become the first trade partner of Azerbaijan. President Aliyev and Prime Minister Letta have issued in August a "Joint Declaration on energy cooperation" which takes stock of the high level of our economic relations and announce further steps aimed at increasing our partnership, in particular as regards the electricity and gas sector, renewable energies, oil related activities and in the petrochemical industry," the diplomat said.

In addition, according to him, Italy has a worldwide reputation for its know-how and technologies, as well as for the taste and quality of its lifestyle and -also judging by the display of Italian brands and design in Baku- I am sure there is a huge potential for an even bigger cooperation.

On the occasion of my recent meetings both with President Aliyev and Foreign Minister Mammadyarov, I have received a strong encouragement to further explore with all concerned Ministers and counterparts in Azerbaijan all possible areas of cooperation, the diplomat noted.

Talking about economic relations between the two countries, new ambassador of Italy to Azerbaijan noted that in this context, it is already being carried out work on the visit to Baku in November of a business mission of the Italian Confederation of Industries (CONFINDUSTRIA) and of the Association of Italian Construction Companies (ANCE).

"At the same time, there is also a commitment by both parties to convene in Baku the next meeting of theJoint Economic Commission, by the end of this year. Overall, we want to encourage a more mature and inclusive partnership, through people-to-people contacts, an increased offer of Italian language and culture in Azerbaijan, as well as exchanges between our respective civil societies and universities, in order to favor tourism and closer ties on culture, science, art and technology," he said.

The diplomat noted that Italy is a free economy and a competitive market.

"Of course Azerbaijani investments in my Country would be more than welcome. The attraction of foreign investments is a key priority of the Italian Government, which is committed to provide an always more friendly and attractive playing fields for foreign investors," the ambassador noted.

More about: