Ambassadors Lunch Photos and review from La Fiamma

Sistema Italia Meeting

On the 4th October, the Italian Chamber of Commerce in QLD hosted two major events: The Inaugural Ambassadors Lunch 2010 and the Sistema Italia Meeting, attended by Presidents and Secretary Generals of the Italian Chambers of Commerce and Industry in Australia.

Following the election of the new board of directors lead by President Hon. Com. Santo Santoro, the Vice-president Fabio Orlando, the new Secretary General Alessandro Sorbello and the new Treasurer Peter Costello, the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Queensland officially introduced the new strategy plan and its activities to its network at the Inaugural Ambassadors Lunch. Queensland business community gave a strong sign of support to the new management of the Chamber: over 150 distinguished entrepreneurs attended the Inaugural Ambassadors Lunch, held on the 4th October at Gusto da Gianni Restaurant at Portside Wharf. Beside the Ambassador of Italy in Australia, Gian Ludovico De Martino di Montegiordano, attended the lunch the Consul of New South Wales, Victoria and Western Australia and Francesco Capecchi, the Consul of Queensland and Northern Territory. The Lunch was also attended by the Presidents and Secretary Generals of all the Italian Chambers in Australia, some of the mayor Italian company operating in Queensland, such as Ansaldo STS and Ghella and various Australian companies, most of them ICCI’s members.

During this sumptuous Lunch, the Ambassador gave an interesting speech in regard to Queensland and Australia economy. Santo Santoro, President of ICCI, Alessandro Sorbello, ICCI’s Secretary General and Peter Costello, ICCI’s Treasurer also delivered speeches regarding to the Chamber activity. The Consul Francesco Capecchi delivered the final speech.

In his official speech, the President of the Chamber, Hon. Com. Santo Santoro, expressed his sincere appreciation for the honor of having Sistema Italia Meeting taking place in Brisbane thanks to the commitment of the Italian Ambassador, Gian Ludovico De Martino di Montegiordano.

Santoro has sincerely thanked the mayor sponsors Ansaldo STS, Euromarque and Singapore Airlines and also the other sponsors Gusto da Gianni, Ristorante Dell’Ugo, Dolci Sapori, Gerbino e Italiquore for their precious contribution in the organization of the event.

The Sistema Italia Meeting was held in the afternoon at Casa Italia Community Centre, here the Ambassador, at the end of the meeting, also met the Committee’s members.

In the evening Hon. Santoro hosted a private function attended by various representatives of Brisbane Italian Community. The attendees were invited by the Ambassador and the Consul to support with their constant commitment the development of cultural and trade relations between Italy and Australia. All the attendees show their strong commitment in achieving these goals and in supporting the birth of a new strong Chamber.

                                   

From Left to Right: Hon. Teresa Gambaro MP, Hon. Con Sciacca AO, Guido Canale, John Caputo

From left to the right:- Nicholas Di Girolamo (President, Italian Chamber of Commerce, Sydney) Nicholas Care’ (Secretary General, Italian Chamber of Commerce, Sydney), Hon Teresa Gambaro MP,  Nereo Brezzi (President, Co.As.It, Brisbane), H.E. Gianludovico De Martino di Montegiordano (Ambassador of Italy), John Caputo

From left to the right:- Marco Mari (Secretary General, Italian Chamber of Commerce, Perth), Massimo Perotti (President, Italian Chamber of Commerce, Perth), Frank Paolino (Italian Consulate, Brisbane), Guido Canale

From left to the right:- Nicholas Care’ (Secretary General, Italian Chamber of Commerce, Sydney), Nicholas Di Girolamo (President, Italian Chamber of Commerce, Sydney), Robert Berton (President, Italian Chamber of Commerce, Adelaide), John Caputo, Nereo Brezzi (President, Co.As.It, Brisbane), Teodoro Spiniello (Secretary General, Italian Chamber of Commerce, Adelaide), Marco Mari (Secretary General, Italian Chamber of Commerce, Perth)

Lyle Jackson (President Transportation Solutions, Ansaldo STS), H.E. Gianludovico De Martino di Montegiordano

From left to the right:- Anne Richardson (Ansaldo STS), Lyle Jackson (President Transportation Solutions, Ansaldo STS), H.E. Gianludovico De Martino di Montegiordano, Bree-Anne Veling (Ansaldo STS)

From Left to Right; -Julie Darch, Elysia Zeccola Hill (Director Italian Film Festival)

From left to the right:- Sandra Servadio, Paul Amabile (President, Tuscan Association)

A Message from the President of the Italian Chamber of Commerce

During the past three months, the Board of the Italian Chamber of Commerce has focussed on putting in place an innovative plan to significantly enhance the benefits and services the Chamber offers, including the move toward embracing the electronic era and developing a paperless office. Improved services will be supported by an administrative structure enabling the Chamber to grow and develop as a commercially efficient and culturally significant organisation.


The Board has initiated a number of initiatives including;

The Organisation of Major Networking Functions

Details of the first two major networking functions are enclosed below. You are cordially invited to attend the lunch and the cocktail party with the Italian Ambassador. This event forms part of the ‘Sistema Italia’ project, which see’s the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Queensland host the Ambassador of Italy, the Italian Trade Commissioner, Consuls from each state, the Presidents and Secretary Generals for all of the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Australia and the Italian Institute of Culture.

We expect a large attendance at both of the functions, which I am sure will be good networking opportunities and very enjoyable.

Two other major networking functions are being organised before Christmas and details will soon be provided.

The Redevelopment of the ICCI Website

The Board, in conjunction with the Administration team, are presently working on developing a fully functional electronic commerce strategy and web site, which will allow members to join the Chamber and interact with the website to manage their own profiles. This new platform will form the cornerstone for expansion into streamlined operations and state of the art management of data with the highest level of security.

To get to the interim website, go to http://www.icci.com.au/

The Provision of Consulting Services to Business

The amount of consulting services provided by the Chamber to members and other businesses is steadily increasing and beginning to generate as we expand the network to incorporate Italian and Australian Universities, Trade Queensland, and many other major organisations and institutions.

The Appointment of a New Secretary General and Trade Officer

The new Board is pleased to announce the appointment of a new Secretary General – Cav. Alessandro Sorbello, Producer of the Official ‘Italian Week’ , an Initiative of the Italian Consulate, joined the Italian Chamber on the 6th of July. Miss Federica Odorisio joined the Chamber as the new Trade Officer. Alessandro and Federica are already proving their very substantial worth. The Chamber has recruited the best talent to secure re-emergence as the pre-eminent organisation of its type in Australia.

The Promotion of Visits by Italian Business Delegates to Australia and Queensland

Both the Treasurer of the Chamber and I have recently travelled to Italy and whilst there have had very useful meetings with senior representatives of Italian-based Chambers of Commerce and other relevant authorities, encouraging them to put together trade delegation visits to our country.

The response to these direct approaches (and to very regular contact with Italian companies and authorities by our Chamber officers) has been very encouraging. We expect visits to Australia to eventuate.

Collaboration with the Australian Italian Chambers of Commerce

The above trade/businesses development work is being complimented by the development of closer ties between the ICCI (Qld) and the other Italian Chambers of Commerce in Australia. We are promoting Australia as a multiple destination for incoming trade missions and we are pleased with the greater goodwill that is developing between all of the Chambers of Commerce in Australia.

Other Initiatives

Much more is being worked upon, including the development of a significant membership drive, sponsorship packages and specific service offerings to our members. More on these and other initiatives in the near future. Stay tuned for the Member2Member program currently under development, which will see a significant value proposition for all existing and new members of the Chamber.

In the meantime, please join the Board and the Administration team along with the Ambassador of Italy and the ‘Sistema Italia’ network for the Ambassadors lunch and cocktail, hosted by the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Queensland.

Italian Chamber of Commerce Welcomes Sistema Italia to Brisbane

Italian Chamber of Commerce Welcomes Sistema Italia to Brisbane


The Italian Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Australia (Qld) will host ‘Sistema Italia’ at their first corporate business lunch next week.

Sistema Italia is comprised of the Ambassador of Italy, the Consul General’s of New South Wales and Victoria and the Consul’s of Queensland and Northern Territory, and Western Australia, the Presidents and Secretary Generals of all of the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Australia, the Italian Film Festival and Palace Cinema Director, and the Directors of the Italian Institutes of Culture of Sydney and Melbourne.

All of these individuals and other senior Italian business leaders, such as the CEO of Ansaldo STS, Managing Director of Ferrero Australia, Managing Director of Ghella, Director and Managing Director of Savino del Bene and the President of Veneto Innovazione, will be attending the meeting of Sistema Italia in Brisbane on Monday 4th October.

Of special note is the attendance of the Economic Assessor for the Region of Tuscany, who is travelling to Brisbane from Italy especially for the Meeting and Luncheon.

Also attending will be the Australian Consul in Milan and Trade Commissioner Designate, Simone Desmarchelier.

Coinciding with this important occasion, the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Qld has organised a business networking lunch with the Ambassador and the ‘Sistema Italia’ network as special guests. This unique lunch will be held at Gusto da Gianni Portside at 12 noon on Monday, 4th of October.

The Italian Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Queensland views the staging of this important meeting as a strong sign of support by the Italian Ambassador and the Italian authorities for the Chamber and its future.

A growing number of Italian and Australian organisations have expressed strong interest in developing international trade and bilateral cultural exchanges between the two countries.

For further information, please contact Alessandro Sorbello, Secretary General at the Italian Chamber of Commerce (Qld) on (07) 3392 2499 or Santo Santoro, President, on (07) 3262 4266