ROMA (ITALPRESS) – The relations between Italy and Kazakhstan are “excellent” and in a defined phase as “total strategic partnership”. The Italian Ambassador to Astana, Antonello De Riu, interviewed by Claudio Brachino for Diplomacy Magazine, the column of geopolitics of the Italpress Agency. “We see in a certain way the role of the opener in the approach to Central Asia, through a stable model of dialogue where we face common challenges, because with Kazakhstan we have collaborations on even multilateral dossiers, as well as clearly on what most concerns us, that is, the bilateral one. We are no longer in a good relationship phase, we are in a total strategic partnership phase,” he said.
“The visits of the President of the Meloni Council and President Mattarella (effettuated this year in Kazakhstan) are not just acts of ceremonial, they are the signature, practically the acronym on a system pact of two countries that do not want to do only business, but build together the future of Eurasia,” said De Riu.
From the economic and commercial point of view, Italy is the third partner of Kazakhstan in the world and the first of the European Union countries. “If we want to find a reason for this privileged position that we have within the European Union towards Kazakhstan, let’s say that it is not the fruit of only one factor, but it is a structural convergence of interests, capacities and visions. First of all, economic complementarity: Kazakhstan has raw materials and space, Italy has technology and design. We have a historical and rooted presence: we have been here since 1992, the year after the independence of the country, with Eni, and since then have arrived another 200 Italian companies that have opened the headquarters or joint ventures on site and have generated a network of knowledge, suppliers and professionalism that for the moment the other European countries continue to see ‘to die. We also have logistics, the ‘Middle runner’ that in a certain way favors us. The new transcaspian corridor, ranging from China to Kazakhstan and the Caucasus to Europe, reduces transport times. For the Shanghai-Milan route, instead of 35 days now it takes 15′′′, the ambassador explained.
The soft power of culture and training is also the added value that, according to the ambassador, represents “a fundamental engine to strengthen the Italian presence in Kazakhstan. Because through culture you can build those bridges of relationships that also serve business.” Each year, he recalled again, more than 1,500 kazaki students “go to Italian universities”.
Returning to the economic aspect, the horizons of cooperation “clearly expanded” over the years, according to De Riu. “First they were confined to those that are hydrocarbons, all the extractive industry, therefore the presence of Eni. Today we say that Kazakhstan is no longer just an energy partner, but it is a hub, it must be seen as an economic, multifunctional hub,” he added. Kazakhstan “is going towards a transition that foresees a green transition, i.e. from oil to green economy. A transition in which we are already inserted because the Eni itself is accompanying Kazakhstan towards the objective of a diversified and technologically advanced sustainable growth,” said De Riu, according to which other sectors exist with a strong potential for cooperation. “Certainly precision agriculture and agri-food, where we can offer technology, selected seed, intelligent irrigation, sustainable agri-food chains and above all demonstrate that agri-food is an export engine,” said the head of the diplomatic mission in Astana.
Other sectors are infrastructure and logistics, in a country “offered between two continents” as is Kazakhstan. Advanced mechanics or industry 4.0, instrumental mechanics, automation, robotics are all sectors, in which “the same kazaka economy that is trying to diversify needs”. Cultural cooperation is another point of interest which has seen a strong boost in recent years. “The opening, two years ago, of the Institute of Culture (at Almaty) is a clear signal that Italy, towards this area of the world, not only speaks of gas pipelines, balance sheets, but also of Dante, design, restoration, Italian language, and is a strategic, non symbolic choice,” said De Riu.
The Institute reaches a basin of 80 million inhabitants, that is all Central Asia, and promotes the teaching of the Italian language in an area with a “strong demand for Italianity”, also supported by about one hundred university agreements. Regarding the activities of the embassy, “cultural programming is the result of a truly symbiotic work with the Institute of Culture and all initiatives are conceived with a perspective of sustainable lasting impact”, said De Riu.
“A priority axis, which is very dear to me, is to strengthen inter-university collaboration. There are not only agreements – there are 97 inter-university collaborations – but even since July of this year a detached seat of the Polytechnic University of Marche in the Zhetysu region, which is 300 km north-east of Almaty, in the city of Taldykorgan”.
This academic synergy is the creator, according to De Riu, also of opportunities for enterprises, which can find staff formed in key economic sectors. “Then of course we have all the participation in the main thematic reviews of design, research, science, cinema, figurative art as well as the great reviews of Italian Language Week and Italian Cooking Week, which is always appreciated here,” the ambassador added. “I would like to recall that we will manage the next year two important occasions of particular symbolic value: the anniversary of the death of Saint Francis, with a translation project in kazako of the Canticle of creatures, which will create a series of events throughout the country. And the anniversary of the birth of Carlo Collodi, who will be accompanied by an exhibition centred on Pinocchio”, concluded De Riu.
-Foto Italpress-
(ITALPRESS).
