Italy And Serbia 2022

SERBIA’S EU ACCESSION EFFORTS SHOULD BE BETTER ACKNOWLEDGED H.E. CARLO LO CASCIO, AMBASSADOR OF ITALY TO SERBIA

CONTENTS

ITALY 2022

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THE RIGHT MIX FOR SUCCESS ANNINO DE VENEZIA, GENERAL MANAGER, AUNDE SRB D.O.O

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WE NEVER STOPPED BRINGING ITALIAN ARTISTS TO SERBIA ROBERTO CINCOTTA, DIRECTOR OF THE ITALIAN CULTURAL INSTITUTE OF BELGRADE

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15 YEARS IN SERBIA: RESPONSIBLE GROWTH ANTONIO ZANETTI, CEO AND FOUNDER OF THE KMZ GROUP

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COMMITTED TO SHARED PRINCIPLES AND VALUES ITALIAN PRESIDENCY OF THE COMMITTEE OF MINISTERS OF THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE

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GREAT ENTHUSIASM AMONG MANAGERS AND BUSINESS OWNERS ANNINO DE VENEZIA, PRESIDENT OF THE ITALIANSERBIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

A MATTER OF REGIONAL PRIDE ITALIAN CUISINE

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RESILIENCE KEPT US ON TRACK ANTONIO VENTRESCA, DIRECTOR, ITALIAN TRADE AGENCY

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GLOBAL DEMAND FOR SHORT CONTENT IS GROWING ANDREA IERVOLINO, CEO AND CO-FOUNDER OF IERVOLINO & LADY BACARDI ENTERTAINMENT AND IERVOLINO STUDIOS; LADY MONIKA BACARDI, CO-FOUNDER OF IERVOLINO & LADY BACARDI ENTERTAINMENT AND IERVOLINO STUDIOS

RURAL IDYLL TOURISM

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CARE FOR THE PEOPLE WILL BE THE SOLUTION MAURIZIO PANIZZO, DIRECTOR OF PANIZZO CONSULTING

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EXCELLENT CULTURAL CONNECTIONS CULTURAL COOPERATION

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“INTERVIEW WITH PASOLINI” BY DAVIDE TOFFOLO EXHIBITION

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SERBIA IS A GOOD MARKET VLATKO SEKULOVIĆ, LAW OFFICE SEKULOVIĆ

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A TRUE “ONE-STOPSHOP” LJILJANA AHMETOVIĆ, SHOPPSTER CEO

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THRIVING ECONOMIC EXCHANGE ECONOMIC COOPERATION

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COOPERATION FOCUSED ON APPLIED TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION SCIENTIFIC COOPERATION

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A REAL JEWEL TO EXPLORE ACCADEMIA GALLERY IN FLORENCE

IMPRESSUM EDITOR IN CHIEF Neda Lukić n.lukic@aim.rs ART DIRECTOR Branislav Ninković b.ninkovic@aim.rs PHOTOS Zoran Petrović COPY EDITOR Mark Pullen mrpeditorial@mail.com

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PROJECT MANAGERS Biljana Dević b.devic@aim.rs Vesna Vukajlović v.vukajlovic@aim.rs Mihailo Čučković m.cuckovic@aim.rs OFFICE MANAGER Svetlana Petrović s.petrovic@aim.rs FINANCE Dragana Skrobonja finance@aim.rs

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Maja Vidaković m.vidakovic@aim.rs PUBLISHER Ivan Novčić i.novcic@aim.rs DIRECTOR Ana Novčić a.novcic@aim.rs a.novcic@cordmagazine.com

PRINTING Rotografika d.o.o.

Segedinski put 72, Subotica ITALY 2022 Published by: alliance international media Prote Mateje 52, 11111 Belgrade 17, PAK 126909, Serbia Phone: +(381 11) 2450 508 Fascimile: +(381 11) 2450 122 E-mail: office@aim.rs; office@cordmagazine.com

www.aim.rs; www.cordmagazine.com No 39 ISSN: 2560-4465 All rights reserved alliance international media 2022 The views expressed in this publication are those of the presenter; they do not necessary reflect the view of publications published by alliance international media

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ITALY 2022

COMMENT

“The enlargement process in the Western Balkans is a strategic priority of the European agenda and we will continue to do everything in our power, even in Brussels, to ensure the accession of all countries in the region remains a tangible goal”.

Luigi Di Maio, Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, during his visit to Serbia Belgrade, 21st June 2021

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ITALY 2022

INTERVIEW

H.E. CARLO LO CASCIO, AMBASSADOR OF ITALY TO SERBIA

SERBIA’S EU ACCESSION EFFORTS SHOULD BE

BETTER ACKNOWLEDGED

Italy supports Serbia in fulfilling its EU accession requirements, acknowledging Belgrade’s efforts to implement crucial reforms and looking forward to the new National Assembly and the new Government proceeding steadily along the same track flows have been rising to pre-Covid levels and reached a new record level in 2021, with total trade worth 4.1 billion euros (+24%). And our bilateral trade has retained its positive pace in this first quarter of 2022 (up 19% compared to the first quarter 2021).”

Our interlocutor also notes that the nearshoring opportunities offered by the Serbian market were also discussed during the successful recent visit of Confindustria and Confindustria Est Europa to Belgrade on 9th and 10th May.

F

irst the pandemic and then the sudden geopolitical challenges brought about by Russia’s aggression against Ukraine have been hitting logistics, supply chains and the energy and commodities markets.

It is therefore no surprise that this topic dominated the first part of our interview with Italian Ambassador to Serbia H.E. Carlo Lo Cascio.

“Following the general trend towards nearshoring, several Italian companies (both multinationals and SMEs) are considering relocating their operations

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from the Far East to Serbia,” says Ambassador Lo Cascio at the start of this interview. “Belgrade has thus attracted direct investment flows, which have been increasing constantly, even during the pandemic, and reached a record amount of 3.9 billion euros in 2021. Allow me to recall just the recent deal signed between the Government of Serbia and the Stellantis group. This latter will start manufacturing a new FIAT electric car at its historical plant in Kragujevac from 2024 onwards.

Besides, if we look at bilateral trade,

When we think of Italy, we usually think about luxury brands and exquisite food. However, you are also among the most advanced countries when it comes to the application of cutting-edge technologies in industry. To what extent is Italy today a knowledge-based economy?

Italy is indeed more than food & fashion and our new national branding campaign, “Italy is simply extraordinary – be IT”, explains that very well.

Our Country is leading the Fourth Industrial Revolution in the same way Serbia is doing in the Balkan region, which is by investing in education and infrastructure. With approximately 5,400 high-tech manufacturing companies, according to Eurostat, Italy is one of Europe’s top four countries in this field. When all sectors are taken into consideration, Italy remains one of the foremost countries in Europe, with

COMMITMENT

LEADERSHIP

The current conflict in Ukraine requires further efforts on the Serbian side, particularly in terms of alignment with the CFSP, in order to continue advancing along the path to the EU

Italy is leading the Fourth Industrial Revolution in the same manner that Serbia is doing in the Balkan region, which is by investing in education and infrastructure

more than 105,000 high-tech companies.

Italy also outdoes the European average in terms of production and the use of industrial robots, and in the adoption of Industry 4.0 technologies like the Cloud or the Internet of Things. The private sector is also doing its part because, according to the European Commission, the average annual research and development expenditure of Italy’s top companies for R&D spending is at a level of 185.4 million euros, which exceeds the EU average. Just to mention one of the results achieved by our country: Italy ranks 7th in industrial robotics worldwide and 2nd in Europe, just behind Germany. Innovation is also one of the key themes of Rome’s candidacy to host World Expo 2030.

systems to address future scientific, technological and societal challenges.

Italy and Serbia have had very dynamic cooperation in “science diplomacy” for a while, which serves to connect industrial application and value-added manufacturing to science and research. What are the most important outcomes of this cooperation?

This is very true, and the most significant outcome of this dynamic cooperation – on top of the numerous success stories – is its solidity and the richness and breadth of initiatives, from humanities to particle physics, as well as the special value of this cooperation for both countries. Over recent years, Serbia has developed strong competencies in many areas: applied IT, agri-food technology and bioengineering, to mention just a few. This has resulted in increased reciprocity in R&I collaboration that also fosters interest in investing in Serbia among innovative Italian firms.

We are monitoring this process closely and are committed to creating conditions for even stronger cooperation in R&I. Tangible opportunities for more structured collaboration will be offered by the ambitious research policies and programmes that Italy and Serbia are developing to mobilise their research

The Serbian national innovation system is young and suffers a lot from the lack of cooperation between universities and particularly SMEs and start-ups. What could we learn from the Italian experience in this respect?

Public-private research collabora-

There are, and will be, old and new tough challenges to overcome. We still need to enhance efforts for a common recommitment to the values of the European Convention on Human Rights tion between Italian universities and domestic industry is indeed increasing. We have also suffered due to the separation of these two worlds, but university–industry interactions have grown rapidly in Italy over past years.

The presence of different sources of innovation increases the likelihood of collaboration; proximity is more important for SMEs, while larger enterprises

INVESTMENTS

We have been investing in the IT sector in Serbia and are keen to deepen our bilateral cooperation in this field

collaborate with universities better and are able to sell the results of their research. This is truly the reason behind the success story of industrial districts in Italy, where the craftsmanship inherited from the past is combined with innovations coming from universities and research laboratories, leading to continuous improvements and generating a constant flow of new patents, machines, materials and designs. This is a positive example that we would like to disseminate and replicate in Serbia, and also the reason we’re investing a lot to strengthen the “dual system” between the Serbian education system and Italian companies.

The Italian Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, which concluded in May 2022, aimed to remind us of basic values related to democracy and human rights, through the lenses of social rights, culture and the ethical use of artificial intelligence. What were the main messages conveyed by the Presidency?

We identified these as our priority areas from the very first moment of our Chairmanship. The international environment was very different, but Italy still considered those selected to be the primary concerns of the modern world. Tragic events have occurred recently, with the brutal and unjustified Russian aggression against Ukraine and the consequent worst humanitarian catastrophe in Europe since World War II. This sadly showed how the identified priority areas were not only a set of standards permanently reached by the Member States of the Council of Europe, but principles that we must continue to reaffirm and apply. I believe that the key message of the Italian Chairmanship is acknowledging that basic values, such as democracy, human rights and fundamental freedoms, are not secured forever.

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ITALY 2022

INTERVIEW

in communication strategies, as well as in access to cultural events. This process of reshaping all programmes and initiatives affected both content providers and users alike. There is no doubt that the return of in-person events provided an opportunity to bring to Belgrade some unique new cultural initiatives, such as the recent concerts of brilliant Italian singer Alice and Oscarwinning composer Nicola Piovani. The public was craving participation in live events and that was proven by the huge attendance that we had. Nevertheless, we did learn that broadcasting events online could provide access to a broader audience that would like to experience Italian culture, albeit at a distance. We will continue to share a high number of initiatives online and reach out to those who might not be able to physically attend events organised by the Italian Cultural Institute of Belgrade.

As you’ve stated recently, there is a need for the serious and credible revitalisation of the EU enlargement process. What does that mean in practical terms?

When the European Council met in Thessaloniki in 2003 and clearly set out the EU perspective of the Western Balkans, membership seemed like a goal that would be achievable in the near future. Today, almost 20 years on, many things have changed and, unfortunately, that same goal looks to be even further away. We are running the risk of a disaffection with EU prospects among the citizens of this region. Regardless of the lengthy procedures entailed by the Enlargement process, EU member states should still demonstrate how much they support and advocate for Serbia’s accession path. For its part, Italy supports Serbia in fulfilling the accession requirements, acknowledging Belgrade’s efforts to implement crucial reforms and looking forward to the new National Assembly and the new Government proceeding steadily along 6

Regardless of the lengthy procedures entailed by the Enlargement process, EU member states should still demonstrate how much they support and advocate for Serbia’s accession path the same track. The current conflict in Ukraine requires further efforts on the Serbian side, particularly in terms of alignment with the Common Foreign & Security Policy, in order to continue advancing along the path to the EU. During the times of the Covid-19 pandemic, we were often restricted to only virtual communication. Now, with the pandemic abating, people are increasingly interested in reuniting and delving into cultural issues. How is this reflected in the work of the Italian Cultural Institute of Belgrade?

The outbreak of the pandemic required a swift shift to new methodologies

We are at the beginning of a tourism season that could more resemble those that preceded Covid-19.

To what extent have business visits and tourist trips between our two countries rebounded?

Italy has already experienced the strong revival of tourism over recent months, with more and more people spending their holidays in our country than was the case before the pandemic.

We had nearly 10 million visitors in March 2022 alone, equating to 70% of the pre-Covid levels, and this is just at the beginning of the new summer season. Not only are Italy’s major cities benefiting from this trend (such as Venice, with the ongoing Biennale international event, or Turin, which hosted the recent Eurovision Song Contest), but niche tourist destinations are also being impacted positively (smaller islands, environmentally sustainable and rural tourism, Southern Italy). Italy remains one of the world’s most popular destinations and tourism represents nearly 10% of the country’s economy.

We are sure that the decision of Air Serbia, which is a very reliable partner for us, to increase connections with our country and the recent lifting of travel restrictions in Italy will spur more tourist flows between our two countries.

ITALY 2022

FEATURE

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ITALY 2022

INTERVIEW

ANTONIO VENTRESCA, DIRECTOR, ITALIAN TRADE AGENCY

RESILIENCE

KEPT US ON TRACK We’re here to help Italian and Serbian companies work together and to continue reiterating the business values that they’ve been creating over past decades. Resilience and persistence have helped both of our economies to stay on track and have reinforced our relationship EuroFlora, Oro Arezzo, to name just a few. We are very happy to see that the economic and business environment has returned to what it was prior to the pandemic. We currently have over a dozen Serbian business representatives residing in Italy, while in the coming months we plan to further strengthen this important channel of communication. One of our most important business events – the Novi Sad Agriculture Fair – will host 24 Italian companies that will represent our excellence in the agriculture sector.

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he pandemic was felt deeply worldwide and our two countries experienced nothing different - says Antonio Ventresca, Director of the Italian Trade Agency (ITA). Following a period of understandable stagnation in 2020, last year showed that economic collaboration between Italy and Serbia is as strong as ever. Italian exports to Serbia in 2021 grew by 20% compared to 2020 and quickly reached pre-pandemic levels, at a value of 2.3 billion euros. The same can be observed when we analyse Serbian exports to Italy, where the annual growth rate stands at almost 30% and looks to be reaching 1.8 billion by the end of this year, explains our interlocutor. “Re-

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silience and persistence have always characterised the entrepreneurs of both countries and the crisis seemed to have reinforced the most stable economic relationships.”

When could we expect a return to the pre-pandemic period in terms of business travel and the organising of full-scale fairs and other events that help to fuel economic exchange?

I believe this time has already come.

Our Agency organised business trips for a number of fairs, trade shows and business meetings in the first quarter of 2022: the Verona Agriculture Fair, BEER&FOOD ATTRACTION, Vinitaly, MacFrut, IPACK IMA, MIDO,

How has the world of trade and investments changed during the two years of the pandemic and how has that impacted on the overall goals of your organisation?

Something has obviously changed, but it wasn’t necessarily negative. The last two years allowed us to gain new experiences, as we used different online and offline tools to enable and maintain business communications. While travelling was banned or hampered, the majority of our partners, in both Italy and Serbia, adapted quickly to online events and companies have been very responsive to this “new normal”.

Our Agency is already deeply oriented towards online services, and we haven’t skipped a beat. I believe that good oldfashioned face-to-face meetings and a physical presence at significant business events will still remain unparalleled in terms of experience. However, I must say that Serbian companies are showing a great deal of flexibility and willingness to embrace the new trends,

MOMENTUM

Italy has a lot to offer in the renewable energy and environmental protection sectors and I believe that now, more than ever, is the right moment to take further steps in that direction

something that hasn’t been the case in all European countries.

From that perspective, what are the ITA’s main goals in Serbia today?

Our goals remain the same: we are here to help Italian and Serbian companies work together and to continue reiterating the business values that they’ve been creating over past decades.

We are focused particularly on certain sectors that we believe can further broaden and reinforce our economic cooperation – namely, the agri-food sector, construction and infrastructure, the environment and apparel. The ITA takes pride in all the initiatives we organise or participate in as partners, such as the aforementioned Novi Sad Agriculture Fair or the recent Italian Design Day in Belgrade. However, most of the Agency’s activities aren’t perceived on the surface: there are activities that have a strong public projection, but then there are the very specialised activities that aren’t seen from the outside – like constant dialogue with Italian (and Serbian) entrepreneurs, flows of information regarding specialised sectors, laws and procedures, quick or deep market analyses and so on.

Where do you see opportunities to further expand our cooperation?

When it comes to opportunities for further cooperation between Italy and Serbia, I can say that they are as diverse as the current trade data suggests.

We obviously remain strongly focused on the food and agriculture sector, particularly wine, but also other typical Italian products that have been in quite high demand in recent years, like olive oil, mozzarella and others. The entire building, interior design and architecture sector, as well as associated sub-sectors, offers plenty of room for cooperation and we plan to promote it wholeheartedly. The clothing and shoes

OPPORTUNITY

COLLABORATION

The future will bring us more collaboration between Italian and Serbian companies in the digital sphere and it is our task to facilitate the “business” side of the dialogue

We are very happy to see that the economic and business environment has returned to what it was prior to the pandemic

sector is another area that presents opportunities, as well as relatively newer topics like nutraceuticals and the like.

We have been active in promoting collaboration in the renewable energy and environmental protection sectors and I believe that now, more than ever, is the right moment to consider current

When we speak about the Serbian ICT sector, we aren’t speaking about potential: the companies are already present, the workforce is skilled and educated and the myriad topics being encompassed by the companies are indeed very modern: from AI and machine learning development and implementation to

One of our most important business events – the Novi Sad Agriculture Fair – will host 24 Italian companies that will represent our excellence in the agricultural sector circumstances in Serbia and around the World and take further steps in that direction.

The ongoing shift to digitalisation has piqued the interest of Italian companies in further investing in Serbia’s ICT Sector.

Which other sectors are drawing your attention?

novel blockchain solutions, alongside more traditional sectors like banking, eGovernment, web development and so on. The future will bring us more collaboration between Italian and Serbian companies in the digital sphere and it is our task to facilitate the “business” side of the dialogue and provide a solid and healthy framework for both parties, in order to enable them to present their products to an international audience.

We are also striving to find technological ways to speed up customs procedures and waiting times. ICE Belgrade is also considering the creation of a platform aimed at facilitating dialogue and cooperation among innovative startups from the two countries. We are eager to wager on the expansion of the Serbian IT sector.

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ITALY 2022

INTERVIEW

ANNINO DE VENEZIA, PRESIDENT OF THE ITALIAN-SERBIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

GREAT ENTHUSIASM AMONG MANAGERS AND BUSINESS OWNERS Despite the setbacks prompted by the pandemic, there is great energy among Italian and Serbian companies to make it up for the times when they were less active and to launch new business endeavours

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talian-Serbian Chamber of Commerce President Annino De Venezia is certainly very busy these days. There are new Italian companies looking to enter the Serbian market, but also Serbian companies wanting to present themselves to the Italian market. On top of that, De Venezia - as the association’s new president - wants to meet its members and let them know what the CCIS can do for them.

What are the Chamber’s most important initiatives that you, as the new president, intend to pursue for the benefit of members and the Italian-Serbian business community as a whole?

My personal task is to provide all possible support to both Serbian and Italian Companies interested in sharing business in either Serbia or Italy. We never forget that Serbia is a strategic location for Italian business. How can I do this? Firstly, by understanding their needs. I wish to visit all our associates to catch up on their needs and expectations. My intention is also to acquaint them with our most relevant activities aimed at our associates. I think that our members are not always fully aware of the ways we can support them. There needs to be constant dialogue between the Chamber and its members, so that the Chamber can implement targeted

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initiatives to support to the operations of its associates.

What do you see as the advantages of carrying out activities in Serbia and Italy in the business context following the pandemic?

After the Covid-19 Pandemic, I saw great enthusiasm among managers and business owners. I understood that the end of the pandemic was a sort of “time of a new renaissance”. Everyone is exerting efforts to rebuild business and open some new markets. That’s confirmed by the fact that, over recent months, the Chamber has received a large number of requests from Italian companies looking

to enter the Serbian market, but also Serbian companies intending to place their products on the Italian market.

The company I head was under pressure, since the automotive sector contracted dramatically, but we succeeded in reorganising our production processes and restarting without big drama.

How much is the Italian business style accepted today among Serbian companies? Which skills do Serbian businesses have to adopt in order to work better with their Italian counterparts?

Italians are hard workers. That is one of the reasons we are leaders in certain

market segments, like the automotive, machinery, chemistry, electronics and fashion sectors, for example.

The right mix of positive Italian and Serbian energies and experiences can work wonders in the business world Serbia has a very good and strong capacity to offer investors major opportunities.

Its workers are good and professional. The right mix of positive Italian and Serbian energies and experiences can create the right fertile soil for doing business.

THE RIGHT MIX FOR SUCCESS AUNDE SRB d.o.o. is part of the worldwide AUNDE Italia Group, which is itself part of the AUNDE Group. The company’s manufacturing plant in the Central Serbian city of Jagodina employs approximately 750 workers

BUSINESS

ANNINO DE VENEZIA, GENERAL MANAGER, AUNDE SRB D.O.O

S

erbia remains a country in a very important geostrategic area, which enables important investments. And we, as Italians, firstly came to Serbia to invest and then developed the trust to continue doing business.

AUNDE SRB, as a part of the worldwide AUNDE Italia Group, has received some important awards in Serbia thanks to its very high turnover level. Its turnover leapt over the course of seven years from six million euros to 29 million. This progress is impressive thanks to some important factors, among which the company’s management would highlight: * Lean manufacturing: representing the right approach to any industrial activity; * Workers loving their job: the environment, the atmosphere, cooperation between workers etc., serve to create the right mix for success. * We are definitively like a small village where everyone knows each other.

The current production area covers around 10,000m2, but that will have increased to around 15,000m 2 after July 2022. That’s because AUNDE has

Workers love their job: the environment, atmosphere and cooperation between workers create the right mix for success gained another two important projects: IKEA and the Junior Jeep of Stellantis Automotive Group.

According to company bosses, there are some things that should be fixed in Serbia, because not everything is simple and perfect, but they trust that the country has great potential to achieve good results in just a few years and have personally witnessed positive changes in terms of infrastructure. This means that Serbia is heading in the right direction and be-

ing monitored carefully by all investors.

About 200 children with mothers working at AUNDE SRB have been born over the last seven years, and the company is proud of this important positive impact on society.

AUNDE needs workers that are motivated to learn a job in the automotive sector. At the company they like to say that it feels like they’re all part of a big family, which is true and always important to bear in mind.

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ITALY 2022

INTERVIEW

ROBERTO CINCOTTA, DIRECTOR OF THE ITALIAN CULTURAL INSTITUTE OF BELGRADE

WE NEVER STOPPED BRINGING ITALIAN

ARTISTS TO SERBIA The Serbian public will once again have the privilege of enjoying Italian culture at in-person events organised by this Institute. Starting from the next academic year, all interested learners will be able to take Italian classes either on site or online. who don’t live in Belgrade to learn Italian,” says Cincotta.

W

e can happily say that the current programming is up to speed and back to pre-Covid levels - says Italian Cultural Institute Director Roberto Cincotta. Despite the return to in-person activities, the Institute will continue to explore online activities, as they’ve proven to be able to entice new devotees to Italian language and culture from smaller places in Serbia.

Indeed, the experiences of 2020 and 2021 point to that.

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“In 2020 and 2021, the shift to online work was not followed by a decline of enrolment numbers in the Italian language courses. As a result of the pandemic, and as it has happened all over the world, teaching had to be adapted to new methods, to which our teachers adapted with great competence and flexibility. We plan to reactivate face-to-face courses starting from the next academic year, though without giving up the offer of online courses that allow students

Apart from the online presence, we see a lot of your programmes being implemented throughout Serbia. To what extent have the Institute’s activities rebounded to pre-Covid levels?

We’ve resumed the organising of cultural events throughout Serbia and can happily say that the current programming is up to speed and back to pre-Covid levels. We believe it is necessary to support cultural events that take place not only in the capital and major cities, but also in the other Serbian towns that have demand for an Italian cultural offering. We hope that the pandemic will abate further, to allow for a richer and more varied programme of cultural events, confident that these will meet the public’s interests and expectations.

How has the digital experience changed the way we are able to familiarise ourselves with Italian heritage and culture?

The digital experience at Italian cultural events and in Italian language classes has certainly modified our public’s approach to the knowledge and fruition of Italian heritage and culture. Nevertheless, we shouldn’t forget that digital cultural experiences had started spreading even

before the pandemic – these include virtual visits to museums and famous Italian sights, digital books from all times (including manuscripts) made available by Italian libraries, online concerts and conferences, and virtual Italian language courses. Since the outbreak of the pandemic, the digital experience has become an essential aspect of our daily life by increasing what was already becoming a trend.

I believe the digital experience can be useful if conceived not as an exclusive option, but rather as a complementary aspect coupled with the direct experiences of studying Italian, visiting Italy and enjoying Italian culture. With the help of technology, it is easier to prepare, deepen and preserve knowledge of our culture, and participation in it, over time.

At the time we’re conducting this interview, another Biennale di Venezia is taking place. How does this most extremely popular cultural event connect our cultures?

La Biennale di Venezia is one of the most important cultural events in the world. Since its foundation in 1895, La Biennale di Venezia has remained at the forefront of the promotion of new artistic trends by organising contemporary art events through a unique multidisciplinary model. With a leading role in the research and dissemination of new contemporary artistic trends, La Biennale di Venezia organises many events in the fields of art, architecture, cinema, dance, theatre and music, with exhibitions and performances. The Biennale Arte, whose number of participating countries has grown from 59 in 1999 to 82 in 2022, has been recognised as having a prime role among contemporary art exhibitions worldwide. This is a prestigious event that showcases the most recent artistic expression of various countries, including Italy and Serbia, and connects cultures and visitors in an international context.

All stages of preparation and the implementation of participation in La Biennale di Venezia are extraordinary opportunities for mutual exchanges of

knowledge between curators, artists, art critics and visitors.

Many of the festivals that the Institute traditionally participates in, actively and regularly, suffered organisationally during the period of the pandemic. In which of the upcoming editions of festivals we will be able to see Italian artists?

The Italian Cultural Institute of Belgrade has never stopped ensuring Italian participation in Serbia’s numerous festivals with high-level artists, in all fields of culture, whether music, art, cinema, theatre or photography. In 2022, the Serbian public will

The Institute intends to attend the Belgrade Book Fair with its own stand, which will be a meeting point for the Serbian public to get acquainted with many Italian authors, novelists, poets, essayists, teachers and journalists continue to be offered opportunities to encounter Italian culture. Here I’m thinking of Italian participation in the Belgrade Dance Festival, the Belgrade Film Festival, the Film Days in Kragujevac, Užice and Bor, the Beldocs International Documentary Film Festival, the Belgrade International

Review of Archaeological Cinema, the Night of Museums in Subotica and Novi Sad, the Guitar Art Festival, Belgrade Photo Month, the Art Link Festival of Classical Music, without overlooking the dozens of events that are organised directly by the Institute in collaboration with the National Theatre in Belgrade, Dom Omladine, the Kolarac Foundation, the Museum of the City of Novi Sad, Madlenianum Opera & Theatre, the Yugoslav Cinematheque Film Archives and many other institutions of Serbian culture.

It is a quite impressive list! Let me also remind your readers of a number of recent and upcoming concerts of Alice, Nicola Piovani, Mario Biondi and the Belgrade stage of Sanremo Giovani. You can find out more on our website at any time.

The Institute also participates in the Belgrade International Book Fair with its own stand each year.

Are you preparing as if we will be in a position this October to enjoy the true gathering with poets and books? How have you managed to keep the public informed about new IIC publications?

Our Institute is extremely active in the publishing field, both through its own publications and collaborations with Serbian publishers. I would like to mention the imminent publication of Carla Fracci’s autobiography Step by step, realised in partnership with the Belgrade Dance Festival; the Serbian edition of Con ventiquattromila baci

by Francesca Rolandi; and the graphic novel by Davide Toffolo Intervista a Pier Paolo Pasolini, without forgetting several Serbian editions of Italian books published with the support of our Ministry of Foreign Affairs. For this reason, the Institute decided to attend the Belgrade Book Fair with its own stand, which will be a meeting point for the Serbian public to get acquainted with many Italian authors, novelists, poets, essayists, teachers and journalists. So, once again, we advise our dear followers to visit our website and our social media channels and subscribe to the Institute’s newsletter.

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ITALY 2022

BUSINESS

ANDREA IERVOLINO, CEO AND CO-FOUNDER OF IERVOLINO & LADY BACARDI ENTERTAINMENT AND IERVOLINO STUDIOS; LADY MONIKA BACARDI, CO-FOUNDER OF IERVOLINO & LADY BACARDI ENTERTAINMENT AND IERVOLINO STUDIOS

GLOBAL DEMAND FOR SHORT

CONTENT IS GROWING

Iervolino & Lady Bacardi Entertainment (ILBE) and Iervolino Studios (IES) have been setting new standards of innovation in the entertainment industry in Serbia since their very arrival. After just two years, they’ve achieved great results and built a team of more than 100 exceptional creatives, which is a better result than in any other country where they do business also great talent and creative potential.

Being able to create content intended for distribution on leading global platforms from their own city and country, for the first time ever, sparks this special kind of creativity and innovation in them, and that is indeed a beautiful thing to witness.

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audience is particularly attached to. On the other hand, demand for content is growing, which is proven by the expansion of highquality series on streaming platforms in the “up to 30 minutes” category.

Speaking from your rich experience as a Hollywood producer, what do you think the future of entertainment will look like?

Andrea: The everyday routines and habits of viewers have changed drastically during the last couple of years. Their attention-span is getting shorter, therefore relevant and high-quality content, whether in the fields of entertainment, art, education or sales, “packaged” in a short and easily accessible form, is something the

What makes Serbia so special?

Monika: From the very beginning, we had only the highest of expectations and a lot of faith, but I have to say that the results we achieved after only two years surprised me, too. Every start is hard, especially when it happens in the midst of a pandemic, and we certainly had some ups and downs along the way, but it was worth it. The result is a team of more than 100 exceptional creatives, better than in any other country where we do business.

What makes them unique is their great devotion and eagerness to learn new skills and techniques that they maybe haven’t had the chance to see or use before, but

his duo of Andrea Iervolino and Monika Bacardi thinks that Serbia and its creatives have everything it takes to be successful: talent, passion and imagination, which they say are deeply ingrained in our country’s culture and tradition, helping these artists tell strong, memorable stories that will leave a mark in the years to come.

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The first “product” of IES is the animated short series Puffins Impossible. How many episodes have been created so far and where can they be watched at present?

Andrea: By the end of 2021 we’d created 54 episodes of the series, produced

by Archangel Digital Studios, which is owned by our great friend Miloš Biković, and with the support of the Ministry of Culture and Information of the Republic of Serbia. Starting from April this year, the first 18 episodes are available for streaming on leading global platforms – Amazon Prime, Apple TV, Google Play, Chilli TV and TaTaTu, making them accessible to millions of people all around the world.

However, we wish to double the number of episodes created in 2022 – somewhere between 80 and 100, and we are already on the right track to achieve that.

How about other formats, besides short ones? Will we talk about the first Iervolino Studios feature film this time next year?

Monika: Plans for doing that are definitely there and in motion – we have a lot of exciting new projects ahead of us and we can’t wait to talk about them in more detail in the period ahead.

IERVOLINO STUDIOS

CELEBRATING

TWO SUCCESSFUL YEARS Every great film or TV series starts with a great story and, very often, with a sequence of unexpected events that ultimately turn out to be fortuitous. And that’s precisely how the story of Serbia-based animation company Iervolino Studios (IES) started: from co-founder Andrea Iervolino being stuck in Belgrade during the first months of the pandemic and his brave decision to start his business here, to a studio which, just two years later, employs more than 100 creative professionals in uniquely designed studios in Belgrade and Novi Sad, equipped with top-notch technology the fields of animation, film and special effects (VFX) that are led by renowned local and international experts.

“With its final goal of contributing to the development of the animation industry in Serbia, as well as building and supporting the local creative community, our training center is an educational platform

for professionals wishing to enhance their existing creative skills. What’s more, it provides a chance for the most talented students to start their careers at IES after completing the course,” says Iervolino Studios Head of Marketing and Communications Anđelka Janković.

IES has even bigger plans to implement by the end of 2022: completing five seasons of the Puffins Impossible series, hiring more skilled professionals, opening a brand-new department alongside its current VFX and post-production departments, as well as launching numerous new projects, particularly in the field of education.

Photo: Archive IES

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ith its main focus on creating high-quality short animated content, the studio recently announced that the first 18 of 54 completed episodes of the animated series Puffins Impossible, created at IES and produced by Archangel Digital Studios, are available to watch on leading streaming platforms, such as Amazon Prime, Apple TV, Google Play, Chilli TV and TaTaTu. Over a period of just two years, this project has achieved something that was difficult to even imagine: the work of Serbian artists and creative professionals can now reach millions of people worldwide. What makes this series even more special is the fact that Johnny Depp gives his voice to the main character, while he also officially opened the studio in Belgrade last October.

“We are very proud of the fact that the animated series that’s available on the leading streaming platforms is signed by Serbian artists. Our teams in Belgrade and Novi Sad have done a great job and confirmed that we are a talented, adaptive, and fast-growing community that’s always ready to inspire others, learn and progress.

We will continue to further expand our team and our business in the years to come,” says Iervolino Studios Local Country Manager Dragan Nikolić, adding that IES is already working on new creative projects for global distribution, as well as on developing tailored content to meet the needs of specific users and clients in Serbia.

Another important step for IES during the previous period was the opening of the IES Internal Training Center, which is dedicated to educating all interested current and future creative professionals through specialised workshops and courses covering

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ITALY 2022

BUSINESS

VLATKO SEKULOVIĆ, LAW OFFICE SEKULOVIĆ

SERBIA IS A GOOD MARKET During the three decades of its work, Law Office Sekulović has specialised in the corporate domain and those branches of law that are essential to the functioning of the economy, from property relations to classic commercial law

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he economic challenges brought by the two major historic events of the pandemic and the war in Ukraine are huge and it isn’t currently possible to see all of their consequences, though it is certain that the Serbian economy will not be exempt from world trends.

Your Office is among the leaders in the field of commercial law. How much have you been helped in gaining such a status by the fact that you have a team with broad local and international education and experience?

Thanks for that statement! We try to provide the highest possible quality in a specific branch of law. We understand the necessity for law firms to focus on both the types of clients they have and the types of law that they address. This development of legal practice is conditioned by the complexity of legal norms in the 21st century and the broad range of coverage of the regulating of social relations as a result of overall economic and technological progress.

Your clients also include embassies, chambers of commerce etc. That is a great honour, but isn’t is also a great responsibility?

We are a “trusted law firm” [Lawyers of Confidence] of the Embassy of Italy and the Italian Trade Delegation in Belgrade, a member of the Italian-Serbian Chamber of Commerce and Confindustria Serbia...

In our profession, responsibility is a given. Moreover, due to the special role of legal practice in society, its constitutional position, the position of a lawyer presupposes a high ethical level and responsibility for one’s own work. This applies particularly to our colleagues who are tasked with determining guilt, because they are on the first line of ethics, given that the lives of specific people are decided in this legal area.

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Our legal system, both in its normative part and from the aspect of its application, particularly the judiciary, doesn’t deserve the negative assessments that are often emphasised among our public How is our legal framework rated by the many foreign investors that you represent?

Our legal system, both in its normative part and from the aspect of its application, particularly the judiciary, doesn’t deserve the negative assessments that are often emphasised among our public. Our legal system certainly isn’t as efficient as, say, Germany’s, but nor are we – as a society and individuals – as efficient as German citizens. I consider that, in the balance between the attractiveness of profitability and legal security, Serbia represents a good market for foreign and local investors.

The world is still struggling to overcome the consequences of the two-year pandemic, while it has now

been additionally rocked by Russia’s attack on Ukraine. How will this reflect on our economy?

The world is today a completely different place compared to two years ago. The Covid-19 pandemic and war in Ukraine represent unprecedented events in many ways. The issue of security is certain to have a significant impact on economic processes, both when it comes to the availability of raw and semi-raw materials, and when it comes to supply chains. These factors subsequently have a knock-on effect on supply-demand relations, which leads to inflation. The Serbian economy will not be exempt from these flows. Given that Serbia is fully integrated into the EU market of goods and services, as well as the U.S. financial market, the framework of our actions has been clearly determined.

In that sense, the Serbian economy may experience serious disruption if it moves, for political reasons, towards its own exclusion from these markets, which could have very negative ramifications not only for the standard of living, but also for the overall stability of our social system in all areas – from the economy to health, security and education.

ITALY 2022

LJILJANA AHMETOVIĆ, SHOPPSTER CEO

Last year saw the first and largest online and TV store in Serbia, Shoppster, begin its cooperation with the local association of Italian entrepreneurs – Confindustria Serbia – to strengthen the friendship with Italian entrepreneurs and Shoppster’s offer of Italian brands

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nterest in Italian brands and recognisable products on the Serbian market is huge, and this cooperation will ensure the regular growth of an already rich offer. Speaking in this CorD interview, Shoppster CEO Ljiljana Ahmetović doesn’t hide her delight about this new cooperation.

How does the introduction of a large offer of Italian products at Shoppster fit with the goals of this company?

As pioneers of the modern eCommerce industry in Serbia, our primary goal is for Shoppster to become a platform that gathers global brands and offers the widest range of products, a true “one-stop-shop”. Today, with over 180,000 products and 3,500 brands, we can state proudly that this goal has been achieved, and represents an integral part of the new eCommerce standards that we’ve set on the market.

Likewise, we want Shoppster to become a meeting point for new cultures, where our customers can feel the spirit of countries, nations, their customs and consumer habits. I think it’s fair to say that not many countries have contributed like Italy to the diversity of our everyday life, with its history, culture and traditions.

You have launched cooperation Confindustria Serbia. How is that going today?

Confindustria is our extremely important partner in presenting the unique spirit of Italy to our customers. Their mission matches ours completely: improving business cooperation and the business environment in Serbia, and selfless support of ideas, initiatives and development projects that will

BUSINESS

A TRUE “ONE-STOP-SHOP” number of customers and establish a strong market presence: a platform developed with a top-of-the-line Marketplace model; a unique shopping TV channel; and logistics on par with the largest European eCommerce markets.

Our experience with companies at all levels, from small businesses to globally renowned brands, has established us as a “safe haven” for all Italian entrepreneurs wanting to enter our market.

As pioneers of the modern eCommerce industry in Serbia, our primary goal is for Shoppster to become a platform that gathers global brands and offers the widest range of products, a true “one-stop-shop” bring entrepreneurs closer to a wider audience. We are the first eCommerce company to partner with an association of this type, and it is wonderful to see the friendship with Confindustria grow.

Cooperation is not just about big brands?

Shoppster has everything an Italian company needs to reach a large

What range of Italian products is covered on Shoppster?

Shoppster presents Italian brands such as Kappa, Campari, Lavazza, Olitalia, Bormiolli, Cremonini, Chicco, Schar, to name just a few. Italian fashion, home appliances, the best Italian wines and pasta - all imbued with the Italian lifestyle that we admire so much. For us, the most important thing is that we have brought our Italian partners into an environment that’s filled with the great trust that we’ve built on foundations of a fast, safe and reliable online shopping experience.

How are your customers reacting to new Italian products?

The reactions are more than positive.

Our “Days of Italy” page on Shoppster. com, which is dedicated to Italian products, remains one of the busiest, and its offer will continue expanding, to our mutual delight.

I can conclude with great pleasure that we have, in a short period, contributed to better connecting our two cultures. As Shoppster grows and expands across the region, I’m sure that many more customers will discover the charms and values of the Italian lifestyle.

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ITALY 2022

ECONOMIC COOPERATION 18

THRIVING ECONOMIC

EXCHANGE

Both the volume of investment and the number of Italian companies in the Western Balkan area are extremely high. In Serbia in particular, Italy is one of the most important investor countries, with small, medium-sized and large companies having relocated their production operations to the country

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he history of economic relations between Italy and Serbia is marked by almost continuous progress and the efforts of both sides to improve and deepen mutual economic, investment and trade connections. Italy has long been among Serbia’s top three foreign trade partners and the country’s second largest export market, but is also among the ten largest foreign investors in Serbia.

Economic cooperation between Serbia and Italy is built on the foundations of the excellent bilateral diplomatic relations that were first established more than 142 years ago. Mutual trade and economic ties have been further strengthened by the current ItalianSerbian Strategic Partnership Agreement, which was signed in 2009.

Approximately 1,850 Italian companies, under partial or majority Italian ownership, are registered in Serbia and employ around 39,000 workers. The first important Italian investment in Serbia was that of Fiat, which helped branches of numerous companies from the automobile industry subsequently establish themselves. Italian companies differ in terms of size and area of activity and are present nationwide across Serbia. Italian companies are today present in almost all economic sectors

in Serbia, including construction, IT, renewable energy sources, footwear, packaging, mechanical elements, wood processing, the furniture industry and agriculture. Among the most significant investors are Intesa Sanpaolo, Fiat Chrysler, UnipolSai S.p.A., Ferrero, Cogeme Group, Pompea, Golden Lady, Calzedonia, Olimpias and many others. Indeed, this exchange is strongly influenced by the two countries’ level of develop-

The presence of major Italian banks, with direct investments or via the control of subsidiaries, is extremely important for the support of further Italian investments ment. In 2020, Italy ranked 19th in the Economic Complexity Index (ECI 1.3), and 7th in total exports ($481 billion).

That same year, Serbia ranked 37th in the Economic Complexity Index (ECI 0.68), and 68th in total exports ($20.6 billion).

According to the Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC), an online data visualisation and distribution platform, Italy exported goods worth 1.95 billion dollars to Serbia in 2020. The main products

exported products included tanned equine and bovine hides ($88.2 million), vehicle parts ($69.2 million), and raw copper ($50.7 million). Over the course of the last 14 years, Italian exports to Serbia have increased at an annual rate of 3.26%, increasing from $1.24 billion in 2006 to $1.95 billion in 2020. Italy didn’t export any services to Serbia during 2020.

On the other hand, Serbia exported goods worth $1.71 billion to Italy in

2020. The main products included cars ($351 million), corn ($89.8 million), and footwear parts ($70.9 million). Serbian exports to Italy have increased at an annual rate of 4.21% over the last 14 years, from $959 million in 2006 to $1.71 billion in 2020. According to the latest data available, Serbia exported services to Italy worth $1.63 million in 2019, with the largest in terms of value being transportation ($551,000), other business services ($503,000), and travel ($237,000).

Italy had large net trade with Serbia during 2020 in the exports of machines ($447 million), metals ($261 million), and textiles ($203 million), on the other side, Serbia had large net trade with Italy in exports of transportation ($373 million), textiles ($254 million), and metals ($186 million).

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ITALY 2022

FEATURE

ANTONIO ZANETTI, CEO AND FOUNDER OF THE KMZ GROUP

15 YEARS IN SERBIA

RESPONSIBLE GROWTH

Once vertically integrated, Mr Zanetti’s interests in his companies in Serbia and Italy (including MG Precast and Penta Ge.Co. Construction) will become the KMZ Group of companies

Photo: Marko Kranjc, Origo

blueberry orchard Bacca Blu and Burnout, through which we have become the exclusive distributor of Ducati and Benelli motorcycles in Serbia and the region – a true synthesis of passion and our impeccable management and professional standards.

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G Precast – a regional leader in precast concrete structures, was Antonio Zanetti’s first endeavour in Serbia. Fifteen years on, CorD Magazine met with Mr Zanetti as part of our series of interviews with leaders of the Italian business community in Serbia.

Mr Zanetti, fifteen years on, yourself and your companies have become synonymous with excellence in the construction industry. Tell us more about your work?

- To be honest, this trajectory of my work and the success of our companies in Serbia is something I would not have dared to forecast back in 2007. In the last fifteen years we have successfully been at the forefront of the region’s economic expansion. We started out with MG Precast, as a manufacturer of precast concrete structures (a key part of any industrial facility), and moved on to establish Penta Ge.Co. Construction – our turnkey general contracting company. This year we have proceeded with the aquisition of SPI SRL – a company from Italy that specialises in precast concrete products in the tunnel-building industry. Since 2015, we are also active in the agricultural technologies sector with Loom Of Fruit, which specialises in prestressed concrete anti-hail products. Something unrelated to our core business of construction and concrete is our

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You smile when you mention motorcycles. How come?

- To be honest, growing up in Mantova – famous for being the birthplace of many talented motorists, a connection with motorsport comes naturally. In my case, it was motorcycles – Ducati to be specific. To be able to do business with a brand like Ducati – one I have admired since my childhood days – is pure passion. Hence the smile.

You mentioned the success of MG Precast. Could you tell us more?

- This is a company that has grown significantly since its founding. To put it into numbers – in our first years here, we were producing some 50,000 square metres of precast concrete structures annually.

Last year we produced and installed over 400,000 square metres. With increased demand, we had to increase our capacities. Two years ago, we doubled our output with the opening of our second production plant in Inđija.

With such an increase in operations (the plant spreads across over 40,000 square metres) the company essentially entered a new era and we felt that its name should also evolve in a way that mirrors this. Martini Gradnja therefore became MG Precast.

Penta Ge.Co. Construction has taken its place among the region’s most respected general contracting companies. What are your thoughts?

- Penta Ge.Co. Construction is a company that was founded on the basis of our extensive experience in the construction business. In these seven years, we have had the pleasure to work with global market leaders in building their factories, logistical centres and retail parks in Serbia. Just recently, we were chosen as the general contractor for the new ‘Lastavice - Blok 58’

residential complex in Belgrade. This is a huge milestone for us, as it speaks volumes about our reputation within the investor community in the region and beyond. Additionally, after building several hundred thousand square metres of industrial and logistical facilities, this will be our second large residential and commercial project.

What are your next steps, considering the diversification of your various businesses?

- We are currently working on the vertical integration of our companies both here in Serbia and in Italy. Loom Of Fruit has established itself as one of Europe’s leading manufacturers of prestressed concrete antihail poles and we will work on establishing the company’s presence in other European and Asian markets. With regard to Burnout and our motorcycle business, we plan to build a 1,500m2 motorcycle centre from which we will directly supply all EU and Extra-EU markets that we are covering with Ducati and Benelli motorcycles. We also plan to introduce a third brand, but no details can be made public at this time.

With MG Precast, the goal is to maintain stable and continuous growth, in line with previous company history and the recent expansion of our production output. Penta Ge.Co. Construction will work on further increasing its presence in both Serbia and other European countries by taking benefit our own knowhow, activities with our businesses in Italy and the reputation we have built by working with global industry-leading companies.

KMZ Contractor, the group’s project bureau, will undergo a rebranding as we understand it?

- The KMZ Contractor project bureau, known for its excellence in service, will soon be renamed to Indicon. Under this new name, Indicon will focus on acquiring new clients in regional and EU markets, as well as retaining its market-leading position here in Serbia. All things considered, this scope of activities certainly provides for a positive outlook.

ITALY 2022

FEATURE

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ITALY 2022

ITALIAN PRESIDENCY OF THE COMMITTEE OF MINISTERS OF THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE

COMMITTED TO SHARED

PRINCIPLES AND VALUES The Italian presidency focused on three main themes: recommitting to the Council’s shared principles and values; enhancing women’s empowerment and the rights of children and adolescents; and building a people-centred future

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uring Italy’s six-month Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, from November 2021 to May 2022, the country worked hard to further familiarise the citizens of member states with the values and work of the Council of Europe and strengthen awareness-raising activities targeting schoolchildren and students.

Within the scope of theme one recommitting to shared principles and values - Italy’s presidency took

the opportunity to emphasise the importance of decisive action among governments to finally place equal access to healthcare at the heart of their concerns; to contribute to joint efforts to strengthen the Social Charter by simplifying its monitoring procedures and fostering more regular dialogue with governments, and to set an example on the use of new technologies in the service of knowledge, art and beauty by holding a major event focusing on culture, landscapes and common heritage.

The second theme - enhancing women’s empowerment - was intended to draw attention to increasing instances of domestic violence and gender abuse during lockdown, as well as the declining participation of women in the labour market as a consequence of the Covid-19 pandemic. In that respect, the protection and promotion of women’s fundamental rights were

of minors’ rights in all multilateral cooperation activities, prioritising the eliminating of all forms of violence and abuse against children and adolescents and ensuring that they fully enjoy their fundamental rights.

The Italian Presidency also invited young people from all Council of Europe member States to attend the Forum on Education for Democratic Citizenship and Human Rights, both in person and virtually. This event focused on the five-yearly review of the implementation of the Charter on Education for Democratic Citizenship and Human Rights Education.

When it comes to discrimination, Rome hosted the plenary session of the Steering Committee on AntiDiscrimination, Diversity and Inclusion and the meeting of LGBT focal points.

The third theme - building a people-centred future - focused on the

Italy was proud that Rome hosted the launch of the new Council of Europe strategy on the rights of children and adolescents

interplay between technologies and science and people’s needs with full respect for their dignity and inalienable rights, with a focus on the development and use of artificial intelligence in the service of human needs and the strengthening of democracy through science.

In addition to all that, Italy also committed itself to reaffirming the function of punishment, both as a means of the rehabilitating of offenders and the recovery of victims.

This led to the organising of two high-level events in the justice sector: the Conference of Ministers of Justice on restorative justice and its role in European criminal justice; and the meeting of the General State Prosecutors of the Supreme Courts of the Council of Europe Member States, focused on the independence of prosecution departments.

at the core of the Italian presidency’s activities; Italy devoted itself to adding signatures and ratifications to the Istanbul Convention, as the most advanced instrument to fight violence against women and domestic violence at the multilateral level.

Under the scope of the same theme, the presidency focused on the rights of children and adolescents, promoting youth policies while fighting discrimination. The Italian Presidency pushed to raise the level of protection of minors under the panEuropean and international framework through the mainstreaming

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ITALY 2022

BUSINESS

MAURIZIO PANIZZO, DIRECTOR OF PANIZZO CONSULTING

CARE FOR THE PEOPLE

WILL BE THE SOLUTION

Despite the turbulent times, Panizzo Consulting and Panizzo Engineering believe in the future and in their business model that has been functioning perfectly in Serbia for more than 50 years, based on family values and experience. Today, with the same care and dedication, the Panizzo family is developing two companies, Nicma Balkan and Abacaar

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oon, the third generation of the family will become part of the team, my daughter Sofia Panizzo, who from the Turin Faculty of Design is setting up support for new horizons of style and branding of companies and products - said Mr Panizzo, with unconcealed pride, speaking to CorD Magazine.

The Panizzo family has been present and operating in Serbia ever since 1968, when your father worked for FIAT as a manager. Can you tell us more about the history and business in Kragujevac?

My father, Mario Panizzo, came to the Crvena Zastava Institute on 21st October 1968, as a representative of FIAT, the Turin car factory. Every year on that date, the Great School Hour is held in Kragujevac, a traditional anti-war event dedicated to the civilian victims of the Nazi occupiers. This is of special importance for our family, because the basis of our professional and life approach has always been respect for the cultural and historical heritage of the people in whose territory we live. Thus, our business model from 1968 puts the socio-cultural factor first. Our business model is based on fairness, justice, and finding the right solutions under existing laws and norms.

We started as management in the company, and over the years other companies came to Serbia, ones that I mostly represent. We are actively working on solving all kinds of problems, from administrative to technological, and connecting 24

with institutions and ministries. I do not remember that there were ever any serious difficulties and we did not have a single moment when the representatives of the institutions did not help us or solve a problem. Successful cooperation with institutions is also the result of our efforts to accurately and clearly inform our clients about the laws and the way of doing business in Serbia.

Can you tell us a bit more about Panizzo Consulting, which has been operating since 2012, and which you personally run? In addition, you run Nicma Balkan and Abacaar, which will include other members of your family.

While solving problems, Panizzo consulting has developed a special engineering sector for companies. Once a significant part of our work was related to the translation of customs documents or the interpretation and understanding of cadastral documents, today the biggest challenges are of a technological nature, so Panizzo consulting has grown into Panizzo Engineering.

We are currently working on the digitalisation technology project of Aerostrutture spa, which has worked in the aircraft industry for more than 20 years producing titanium, steel and aluminium components and is located about a hundred kilometres south of Rome. The Cooperation Agreement was signed on 20th December 2021 with those responsible for the R&D sector, Cavaliere del Lavoro della Repubblica (Knight of Labour of the Republic) Augusto Michelagnoli. In this cooperation, we have very ambitious plans for the development of technological processes that can be applied in a wide range of industries.

One of my favourite business cases is Nicma Balkan, where I have been working as a director since 2012. Nicma Balkan is part of Nicma Group Italy, which has been dealing with facility management since 1971. This activity started with winning a big tender for technical and civil cleaning in the Fiat factory in Kragujevac right at the beginning of the project. I remember placing an inscription on the administrative building ‘Proudly made in Serbia’ and moving my team to the same administrative building where my

Currently, my wife Sonja Panizzo, who is part of my team, runs Abacaar, which had a minor standstill and is now moving into electronics in the automotive sector, with young and motivated engineers on several projects including AI and a battery management system for electric vehicles.

The third generation of the family will soon become part of the team, my daughter Sofia Panizzo, who from the Turin Faculty of Design is setting up support for new horizons of style and branding of companies and products.

We are actively working on solving all kinds of problems, from administrative to technological, and connecting with institutions and ministries father started working in 1968. In April 2015, I was offered the chance to run the company Idest, among other things. It is an engineering company from Turin founded in 1999, which opened a company in Serbia in 2010, as engineering support to the capital investment of Fiat Automobiles Serbia during the reconstruction of the Crvena Zastava factory. Some time later, we started cooperation with the Italian Embassy in Belgrade, where we monitored the project of rehabilitating river flows in certain flooded parts of the territory of Serbia. In addition to standard engineering services, the company specialises in industrial design at all levels. The work is guided by FIDIC international engineering principles and EU standards. In addition to design, it also offers works supervision and management services on behalf of investors.

Along with other support to various companies in Morocco, Romania and Serbia, we followed the construction and start of activities of the Fiat supplier factory called PMC. PMC is a fusion of two companies, and I am involved as a long-time friend and a person of trust, which is another word that represents a strong pillar of our business model.

A representative office of Confindustria will open in Kragujevac soon and you will be their authorised representative. What nominated you for that position and what are your plans?

A quality operating system has become a reference for many companies that have come to Serbia and for serious cooperation with the Confindustria system, which has more than 150,000 members in Italy.

Confindustria has been present in Serbia since June 2012, and since then it has made great strides in promoting and improving economic and social relations between Serbia and Italy. Cooperation with this extraordinary organisation led to an agreement to open a representative office in Kragujevac, where I will be the territorial representative.

Let me remind you that Confindustria is a representative office of the Confederation of Italian Industry in Serbia, founded with the aim of being an address for Italian business people looking for business partners in Serbia and for Serbian companies that want to be part of the system’s network.

The main goal is to expand the network of companies, both domestic and foreign, on the territory of Šumadija.

Kragujevac also has a very long industrial tradition in the region, and in the last 10 years the number of foreign investors has skyrocketed. A few months ago, coordination began with the director of PKS in Kragujevac, Mr Predrag Lučić, and with the mayor’s office. We have set up a base with institutions and companies that always welcome organisations like Confindustria in this area for increasing visibility, business opportunities and the exchange of technological and business achievements and capabilities.

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CULTURAL COOPERATION 26

EXCELLENT CULTURAL CONNECTIONS Cultural exchange between Serbia and Italy spans from scholarships, inter-university cooperation and research programmes, to projects and initiatives aimed at creating libraries, museums and cultural centres

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ilateral relations between Italy and Serbia are very developed and intensive.

They build upon the Strategic Partnership that was established between Serbia and Italy in Rome in 2009. The cultural programme between the two countries was particularly rich a decade later, in 2019, when the 140th anniversary of the establishing of diplomatic relations and the tenth anniversary of the strategic partnership between Serbia and Italy were commemorated.

Cultural exchange between Serbia and Italy is based on cultural cooperation sector agreements for scholarships, inter-university cooperation, research programmes, and projects and initiatives aimed at creating libraries, museums and cultural centres.

One of the most important events in the long history of cultural cooperation between the two countries was the opening of the new headquarters of the Italian Institute of Culture in Serbia at Palazzo Italia back in 2006. The promotion of Italian culture in Serbia has since entered a new phase, with services and events pushed to a higher level each year.

Belgrade’s Palazzo Italia has become a “showcase” of Italy in Serbia and a centre of services and information intended for citizens.

One of the most important tasks of the Italian Institute of Culture is to popularise the Italian language, and the number of students taking

classes in the Italian language is growing year-on-year.

At the university level, the Department of Italian Studies of the Philology Department is one of the most popular among students, and the Italian language is ranked second in teaching after English. In Novi Sad - where a permanent lectureship has been established - Italian language classes have been running for four years and have over 200 students. Italian language classes were also introduced at the University of Kragujevac as of 2009.

The Italian language has also been added to the curricula of Serbian primary schools, as one of the main languages, on an equal standing with

The number of students enrolling in Italian language classes is growing year-on-year the so-called “universal languages”.

There is also the Serbian-Italian bilingual department at the prestigious Third Belgrade Gymnasium secondary school.

Furthermore, scholarships funded by the Italian Government are awarded to deserving students and researchers to cover the costs of study trips and Italian language training in Italy.

Projects to publish and translate Italian works into Serbian, funded by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, are aimed at intensifying

the exchange of ideas between Italy and Serbia.

Numerous cultural events are organised each year by the Institute of Culture, such as concerts, art exhibitions and events of major importance. The Institute cooperates with local Serbian academic, artistic and museum institutions, such as the Academy of Sciences and Arts, the National Museum, the Museum of Applied Arts, the Museum of Con-

temporary Art, the Belgrade Cultural Centre, the Sava Centre, theatres like the National Theatre, the Yugoslav Drama Theatre, the Belgrade Drama Theatre, Bitef Theatre, and the main cultural endowments of the city, such as the Kolarac Foundation and numerous other institutions that depend on the Serbian Ministry of Culture and Belgrade City Council. In 2018, Belgrade Dance festival Director Aja Jung was awarded the highest state

award in the field of culture – “The Order of the Italian Star” – at the Italian Embassy in Belgrade.

The most important Serbian festivals that the Institute has participated in actively and regularly include the BITEF International Theatre Festival, Music Festival BEMUS, the Belgrade Summer Festival, BELEF, Film Festival FEST, the Belgrade Dance Festival and the International Book Fair in Belgrade.

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ITALY 2022

SCIENTIFIC COOPERATION

COOPERATION FOCUSED ON APPLIED TECHNOLOGY

AND INNOVATION Italy and Serbia are keen to support collaboration between research and industry, in an effort to convert research into innovation and exploit the results of research for economic advancement

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taly and Serbia are continuously advancing their scientific and cultural cooperation. Over recent years, a particular emphasis has been placed on increasing cooperation in the field of applied technology and innovation, biomedicine and biotechnology, agriculture, food technology, energy and environmental protection, nanotechnology, information and communication technologies, and technologies in the field of cultural heritage protection. Prior to the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, a total of 96 inter-university cooperation agreements between the two countries had already been signed.

One of the pillars of this fruitful collaboration was the establishment of the Association of Italian and Serbian Scientists and Scholars – AIS3, which become a point of reference for the two countries’ research communities. This association has organised numerous events and book publications.

Another cornerstone of cooperation is the Italian-Serbian Collaboration Platform. Founded in 2013 as a joint initiative of the Academy of Engineering Sciences of Serbia and the Italian Association of Automation and Mechatronics, ISCP Conferences aim to strengthen and facilitate the Italian-Serbian partnership through intensive industry-research collaboration in technology innovation and robotics. The partners have engaged in several research and innovation projects in the domain of the manu-

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facturing industry, with the financial contribution of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.

Previous ISCP conferences brought together the likes of the Italian Association of Mechatronics and Automation, the Association of Italian and Serbian Scientists, Confindustria Serbia, the Chamber of Commerce & Industry of Serbia, the Italian Trade Agency (ITA-ICE) in Belgrade, the

Among the major goals of scientific cooperation is the promotion of technology and innovation through exchanges of knowledge between scientists and scholars, in both Italy and Serbia Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies (Pisa) and the University of Belgrade.

They were also sponsored by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Government of the Republic of Serbia and the Italian Embassy in Belgrade.

Among the major goals of scientific cooperation is the promotion of technology and innovation through exchanges of knowledge between scientists and scholars, in both Italy and Serbia, to support joint research and development projects between scientists, scholars and non-profit, for-profit and governmental organisations in the two countries, in order to promote the bilateral flow of scientists and scholars between Italy and Serbia,

and assist prospective students in finding fellowships for the exchange of scientists and scholars. The two countries also agreed to work jointly to identify significant research opportunities – with specific regard to European Union Scientific Projects for Italian and Serbian scientific institutions, academia and the hightech industry – and to stimulate their development.

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ITALY 2022

ITALIAN CUISINE

A MATTER OF

REGIONAL PRIDE Italian cuisine is surprisingly diverse. Each of the twenty Italian regions has a distinctive set of flavours, recipes, products and ingredients. In fact, the Italian regions were not officially united as a nation until the mid-19th century, and thus each individual region has retained much of its original exclusive identity

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limate and natural landscape have played a major role in shaping regional cuisines.

Creamy risotto and other delicately flavoured dishes predominate in the Northern regions, while bright olive oil and tomato-based recipes rule the sunny South. Beef is best enjoyed as Florentine steaks in Tuscany, from choice cattle raised in the Chianina Valley. The city of Alba and surrounding areas of the Piedmont region are a top source of expensive truffle mushrooms, particularly pungent white truffles. Access to both the Mediterranean and Adriatic Seas makes fresh seafood dominant, though varied, throughout the peninsula.

Proximity to other countries and a history of militant invasions play a role in the uniqueness of regional cuisines as well. This explains the unprecedented popularity of sauerkraut and goulash in the Alpine regions of Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol and Friuli-Venezia Giulia. The culinary footprints of conquerors can be seen in the unexpected presence of Arabic spices and North African couscous in Sicily today. In fact, these conquerors are largely responsible for bringing such Italian staples as tomatoes and basil to flourish in the South.

Such artisan products as wine, cured meat and handcrafted cheese can be found throughout Italy. The style and flavour of these delicacies varies greatly according to region.

Italy is one of the largest wine producers in the world with a broad span of both white and red varietals. Yet the Sangiovese varietal, originating in Tuscany, is arguably Italy’s winemaking claim to fame. Derived from the words “sanguis Jovis” or “blood of Jobe,” this red wine grape is the main grape in Chianti and Brunello wines.

Cured meats, like the popular prosciuttos of the North and various salamis of the South, are used in such culturally significant dishes as the savoury Easter pies made throughout Central and Southern Italy.

Cheeses range from the soft, mild Buffalo Mozzarella of Campania to the hard, salty Pecorino Romano of

Sardinia. These products often carry names indicative of their origins, such as the increasingly popular Grana Padano (a “grainy” cheese from the “Padana” or Po Valley of the Lombardy region).

Location is so important to many Italian food products that laws exist to protect the authenticity of products made in a certain region. For example, any vinegar labelled Modena Balsamic vinegar must be crafted in the town of Modena, and any cheese labelled Parmigiano Reggiano must be produced in one of several provinces in Emilia-Romagna.

A wide regional assortment of wonderful breads and pastas can be found throughout Italy. Italian breads differ significantly in size, taste, and texture.

The large, chewy ciabatta loaves of Lombardy’s Lake Como and the thin, crunchy grissini breadsticks of Turin are on opposite ends of the spectrum.

Pasta is also unique from place to place. Fresh homemade pasta abounds throughout Italy and is often simply dressed, so as not to overwhelm its delicate flavour. Dried pasta is most popular in the South and can be adorned in countless inventive ways. Some say there are more pasta shapes in Italy than one person could conceivably eat in a lifetime. Italians have been known to squabble over the

proper name and culinary use of a particular pasta shape. Some shapes have legends behind their creation, such as tortellini, from Emilia-Romagna.

Legend has it that a lusty innkeeper in the city of Bologna invented this ring-shaped, stuffed pasta after peeping on the goddess Venus through a keyhole. With merely a glimpse of her bellybutton, he ran straight to the kitchen in a fit of passion to make this pasta in honour of her bewitching navel.

Local chefs will still argue for hours over the proper name, preparation, and origin of particular dishes. Italian food is always a matter of regional pride. But if one were to try and summarise this diverse cuisine, Italian cooking can best be described as a celebration of local flavours held together by a singular appreciation of high-quality, seasonal ingredients, presented in elegant simplicity.

Across all regions, Italian dishes are straightforward preparations of a few choice ingredients artfully combined.

Italy is unified by a national concept of classic meal structure. Rather than serving up everything in one or two courses, Italian dinners traditionally include an array of many small plates enjoyed in succession, giving diners an extended time to savour food and company. Meals progress

PEPOSO, TUSCAN PEPPERED BEEF STEW 31

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from antipasto (appetiser), to a first course of pasta or other starches, a main dish of meat or fish with a simple side of vegetables, followed by salad, cheese and fruit, coffee and possibly a digestive (like grappa or sambuca liquor). Contemporary city dwellers, who have largely abandoned this meal structure for the sake of convenience, often still follow it on holidays, when the long feast still prevails. Yet these time-consuming meals arguably inform the Italian understanding of food as a sensory bliss beyond mere nourishment.

Dessert is sometimes served at the end of a special meal, but more often is enjoyed on its own as a midday snack. Characteristically, Italian dolci are restrained in terms of sweetness.

Cookies, cakes, pastries, and tarts can be savoured with coffee as a daytime energy boost.

The ever-popular tiramisu literally means “pick me up” and is composed of sweetened mascarpone and Marsala with espresso-soaked lady fingers.

One theory asserts that Northern Italian women created this caffeinated dessert to stimulate and fortify troops during World War I. Some sweets are more specific to holiday seasons, such as panettone, a buttery egg bread laced with dried fruit and candied citrus, eaten around Christmas. This famous Milanese treat is quite laborious to make, traditionally taking up to a week to complete.

Gelato is a popular year-round dessert. This rich, intensely flavoured Italian ice cream can be enjoyed anywhere at any time. The most exceptional Italian contribution to the field of pastry is probably the Piedmontese invention of gianduja (a sweet chocolate containing 50% hazelnut paste). Gianduja is used as an ingredient in innovative desserts throughout the world. It even inspired the creation of Nutella, one of Italy’s many popular food exports.

Coffee, particularly espresso, enjoys widespread popularity and cultural significance throughout Italian cities.

The vast range of espresso drinks served in Italian cafes has been mimicked in coffee houses throughout

much of the world. Luigi Bezzera filed the first patent for cappuccino in 1901, deriving its name from this foamy drink’s resemblance to the brown and white hooded garments worn

by Capuchin monks. Espresso was first developed in Milan in the early 20th century, although the modern espresso machine did not appear until the mid-1940s. Many people misunderstand the term espresso. Rather than referring to a specific style of coffee bean or roast, espresso is simply a thicker, concentrated extraction of coffee through a highly pressurized brewing process. The barista, responsible for preparing espresso drinks in cafes, is a highly regarded career position in Italy. Busy urbanites rely on local baristas for a delicious pickme-up at various times of day.

Street foods, such as gelato and panini sandwiches, are also popular in the hectic metropolitan cities. But no street food is as ubiquitous in Italy as pizza. Despite pizza’s global status, most international pizzas bear little resemblance to the thin, crunchy crusts invented in Naples.

Served with only a minimal topping of garlic and herbs or fresh mozzarella and basil on sparsely smeared tomato sauce, this tasty, wood-fired

bread has a distinctive flavour. The tomato sauce, garlic, herb variety, called Pizza Marinara, is said to be the oldest variety of pizza, and was named for a Neapolitan fisherman who often enjoyed this dish. Baker Raffaele Esposito created another variety, Pizza Margherita, in honour of Queen Margherita, using red sauce, white mozzarella, and green basil to represent the Italian flag. This queen, who could appreciate the splendour of workingman’s food, subsequently rose in the esteem of her people.

A somewhat wider variety of pizzas can be found throughout Italy today. Nevertheless, the classic Naples pizza remains a perfect symbol of the beautiful simplicity intrinsic in Italian cuisine: the clever uncomplicated preparation of a few delicious ingredients to render a truly worldclass dish that is at once humble and supremely epicurean.

LOBSTER AND PASTA HOMEMADE POTATOE AND SAUSAGE - TOSCANA SOUP ITALIAN RISOTTO WITH OCTOPUS AND MUSHROOMS

BOWL OF PASTA WITH SQUID INK CANNOLI STUFFED WITH CREAM CHEESE

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TOURISM

RURAL IDYLL With Florence, Rome and Venice (and that is just three of the most obvious ones) Italy boasts some of the most beautiful and rewarding cities in Europe. You can head there and find history, architecture, art and culture that cannot be found anywhere else in the world, and experience a lifestyle that’s almost impossible to forget. But the thing is, that’s not even the best part of Italy

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f you want to enjoy the full Italian experience, it is not enough just to lounge around in milling piazzas and learn the proper way to order an espresso – much of Italy’s true charm can be found in its abundant countryside. From the many gorgeous villas in Tuscany to the breath-taking vistas of vineyards and olive groves stretching to the horizon, the country shows a side of Italy that’s as intoxicating as any vintage Chianti.

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And the best way to experience this wonderful side of Italy? A day trip out from one of the bigger cities is all well and good, but if you really want to revel in the splendour, sun and relaxing atmosphere of rural Italy, the only thing to do is hire a car, head out and stay right at its heart.

The culture you will find out there might not be as famous as Renaissance art, but it is certainly got as much pedigree – after all, rustic wine-making and farming techniques predate even the

Romans! And if you think Italy’s best food is confined to five-star restaurants in swish new neighborhoods, clearly, you’ve never indulged in some farm-bought goat’s cheese, freshly baked bread and artfully produced salami and ham. The countryside (especially around Naples) is also where you’ll find proper, authentic pizza – a world away from most of the tourist-friendly imitations you’ll be eating in the inner city.

CETONA Cetona is a medieval hilltop town located in the southern slopes of Siena, Tuscany. The entire town is encircled by an imposing 10th century rocca (fortress), and is brimming with archaeological riches. Cetona is believed to have been one of Italy’s oldest settlements, with humans living at the foot of Mount Cetona over 40,000 years ago due to the area’s vast clay supply and forests. Steeped in history, Cetona marks a moment in time with its Etruscan archaeological sites and early neo-Paleolithic caves. Cetona boasts all the picturesque views you would expect from Tuscany, with striking cypress trees and a beautiful backdrop of pine forests.

ASSISI Holidays to Assisi show visitors the true Italian countryside in all its glory.

The town sits in the region of Umbria, just east of Perugia and lies nestled in the foothills of Mount Subasio. Assisi is known as the birthplace of St. Francis and has been attracting pilgrims since the 13th Century. The most famous site in Assisi is of course the Basilica of San Francesco d’Assisi, which is dedicated to the saint. There is also the 12th Century Rocca Maggiore Fortress and a huge medieval complex, all of which gave the town its UNESCO World Heritage status. The town is dotted with beautiful churches,

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CETONA

small narrow lanes and charming piazzas, where you can sit and people watch from the quaint cafés. By day Assisi filled with day trippers from nearby Perugia, but by nightfall, you’ll have the town all to yourself and can enjoy milling with the locals in the soft evening light.

LAKE ORTA Holidays to Lake Orta take you to the best kept secret of the Italian Lakes in Northern Italy. It remains one of the most pristine areas in Italy, and one of most beautiful. The incredible architecture of the town of Orta San Giulio, with its pastel coloured buildings, picturesque streets and lakeside location add to the enchanting island of Isola San Giulio to make this destination a real hidden gem.

For historians and culture seekers, there is plenty to intrigue and entertain; visit the UNESCO-protected Orta Sacro Monte, a collection of centuries-old chapels located in Orta San Giulio or the Church of Santa Maria Assunta on the western side of the lake, with its striking classic medieval façade.

MATERA Holidays in Matera, situated in the southern region of Basilicata, transport you back to ancient times. One of the oldest cities in Italy, this enchanting place is best known for its UNESCO honoured Sassi where you will find stone houses and caves, believed to be home to Italy’s earliest settlers. Today, tucked into the caves of the Sassi are cafés, hotels, dwellings and even art galleries, all waiting to

LAKE ORTA

be discovered. Perfect for those looking to immerse themselves in history, Matera is filled with piazzas, Benedictine churches and museums all waiting to be explored.

And beyond the Sassi, the hills of Basilicata are home to old rock churches which were cut into the hillside many years ago.

The adventurous will revel in exploring the caves and the many streets, with so many treasures waiting to be discovered.

If culture is what you seek then Matera is for you. Still relatively unknown to Italy’s visitors, this unique area has retained its traditional charm and character, offering you a real Italian experience.

TROPEA If you want to explore another side of Italy, there is no doubt that holidays to Tropea will guide you off the beaten track.

The charming historic town is perched on top of a cliff that towers above the mesmerising blue and turquoise waters of the Tyrrhenian Sea and is part of the

wider region of Calabria, in Southern Italy.

Tropea overlooks Stromboli, a small island that inhibits one of three active volcanoes in Italy and while the volcano has been active for more than 2,000 years, Tropea itself dates back to medieval times, with traces of civilization dating back to 4,500 BC. Tropea has borne witness to the rise and fall of the Ancient Greek authority, the Byzantines, Roman Empire, the Normans and more. With a history laced with the thread of Greek mythology, legend has it that Hercules declared Tropea to be one of his ports along the 40km of La Costa degli Dei - The Golden Coast of the Gods. The town embodies a wonderful combination of majestic natural beauty, fascinating architectural charm and is in close proximity to the mysterious Aeolian Islands, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Great for couples, explorers and adventurers alike, the seaside terrace town of Tropea is a historical and cultural escape just waiting to be explored.

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EXHIBITION

“INTERVIEW WITH PASOLINI”

By Davide Toffolo

To commemorate the centenary of the birth of writer and director Pier Paolo Pasolini (Bologna, 5th March 1922 - Rome, 2nd November 1975), the Italian Embassy in Belgrade, the Italian Cultural Institute in Belgrade and the Viva Comix association present an exhibition entitled Interview with Pasolini, by Davide Toffolo.

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he exhibition will include over 70 comic art pages of the homonymous graphic novel also known as “Pasolini”, in the 2015 Rizzoli Lizard edition - that Toffolo first created in 2002 and which has also been published in French and Spanish. Also on display will be a selection of drawings created

by Toffolo on the occasion of the live performance Pasolini, L’incontro, as well as covers of the book’s various editions.

The book sees Toffolo establish an imaginary conversation with Pasolini’s alter ego (a double, perhaps a ghost).

The words spoken by Pasolini in the comic are actually derived from essays, interviews and authentic speeches of this intellectual, thus creating an original and captivating introduction to his critical reflection and non-fiction production.

The exhibition project was conceived

by Paola Bristot, professor at the Academy of Fine Arts in Venice and president of the Viva Comix association.

As the curator explains, “Pasolini loved comics and in his artistic research used them for the screenplay of the storyboard of the film La terra vista dalla luna [The Earth As Seen from the Moon]. For a writer who creates comics like Toffolo, this was one of the “hooks” from which to start addressing the works of this Friulian poet. The choice of imagining a character, Mr Pasolini, who introduces himself and, above all, who speaks like the Friulian poet, was a fictional solution that allowed him to continue still active reflections while simultaneously remaining consistent.

“The topics that Pier Paolo Pasolini took on with great intellectual clar-

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EXHIBITION 38

ity and poetic illumination include his complicated relationship with his father, with the state, but also his passion for cinema, for the shapes of a city and people whose ancient and original beauty he admired. There doesn’t seem to have been much difference between the problems of the past and those of the present day, and indeed many of the problems that Pasolini reflected on remain unsolved: homologation, systems of authoritarianism and making spectacles of culture and communication. These are some

of the aspects from which the great popularity of this graphic novel is derived, which gives us an opportunity to observe the power of drawing the comic art pages presented in the exhibition.

These art pages highlight Pasolini’s intense portraits, but also the landscapes of the main places he resided, such as the Friulian countryside, the University Centre of Bologna and the countryside around Rome. Toffolo’s drawings offer an analytical perspective of this exceptional Friulian poet and intellectual, filtered through the

eyes and pen of a contemporary comic book author who manages to present his insight through original but faithful and compelling invention.”

The exhibition is being promoted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Italy and displayed at Italian institutes of culture around the world. It is one in a series of events dedicated to the centenary of the birth of one of the greatest intellectuals of the 20th century and his versatile genius. Writer, journalist and essayist, playwright, film director and

screenwriter, but also translator and painter, Pasolini left behind a diverse and multifaceted, and sometimes controversial, body of work, and always proved to be a profound observer of the social and cultural changes taking place in Italy after World War II. The significance of this jubilee is confirmed by the recognition of UNESCO: on 11th November, as a part of the 41st General Conference, UNESCO approved the inclusion of the centenary of the birth of Pier Paolo Pasolini in the 2022-2023 Anniversary Programme, thus joining the celebration.

The formal opening of the exhibition, in the presence of artist Davide Toffolo and curator Paola Bristot, took place on 18th May at the Italian Cultural Institute in Belgrade. The exhibition remains open to visitors until 17th June.

DAVIDE TOFFOLO was born in Pordenone in 1965 and is one of Italy’s most important graphic novel authors. He is the author of the books Carnera, Pasolini, Il Re Bianco, Il Cammino della Cumbia, The Graphic Novel is Dead and, most recently, The Last Old Man on Earth, based on the texts of Roman artist and poet Remo Remotti. He is also author of the Cinque Allegri Ragazzi Morti series about this well-known vocalist and guitarist of indie band Tre Allegri Ragazzi Morti and, together with Enrico Molteni and Luca Masseroni, co-founder of record label La Tempesta Dischi, which has produced and released a lot of Italian independent music.

His public image sees him wearing a mask in the shape of a skull.

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ACCADEMIA GALLERY IN FLORENCE

A REAL JEWEL TO EXPLORE The Musical Instruments Museum of Florence, inside Accademia Gallery, is a real jewel to explore with your eyes, and especially with your ears. The collection shows the importance of the role music played in the Medici Court, celebrating the invention of the piano, which was created for the Medici by Bartolomeo Cristofori

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he museum was inaugurated in 2001 with entrance included in the Galleria dell’Accademia ticket. It displays about fifty musical instruments from private collections of grand dukes of Tuscany, the Medici, and Lorena, being a hidden gem for opera, theater, and classical music lovers. The instruments were collected from the late 17th century to the early 19th century. They were then given to the Cherubini Conservatory in Florence, which then loaned them to the Galleria dell’Accademia in 1996.

A multimedia area in the Galleria dell’Accademia makes it possible to listen to the sonority of many of the instruments on display and watch a video that retraces the birth and the growth of theater in Florence.

COURT MUSICIANS The Museum of Musical Instruments of Florence exhibits two largescale paintings by Anton Domenico Gabbiani in the musical instrument section. They portray the Grand Prince Ferdinando de’ Medici surrounded by his court musicians. The elegantly dressed young musicians proudly show off their violas, cellos, a lirone, or lira da gamba, and a cello with a precious silver tailpiece used to increase its sonority. You can recognise Pietro Salvetti, cappella master and chamber assistant, and Francesco Veracini, a composer among some of the best musicians of the era.

The room dedicated to Bartolomeo Cristofori displays two XVII century still lifes that combine elegantly set tables and detailed depictions of musical instruments of the era.

Ferdinando de’ Medici’s first passion from his earliest years was music.

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GRAN PRINCIPE FERDINANDO DE’ MEDICI, INITIATOR OF THE MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS COLLECTION

A GROUP PORTRAIT BY ANTON DOMENICO GABBIANI OF MUSICIANS IN THE ENTOURAGE OF FERDINANDO DE’ MEDICI

A GROUP PORTRAIT BY ANTON DOMENICO GABBIANI OF MUSICIANS IN THE ENTOURAGE OF FERDINANDO DE’ MEDICI IN THE 1680S 41

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FEATURE

He became an accomplished harpsichordist, able to sight-read a piece and then play it from memory. He built up a sizable permanent group of players and financed the development of new types of instruments.

He brought Bartolomeo Cristofori from Venice to be his chief instrument maker — and in 1700 Cristofori invented and constructed the first piano. Ferdinando attracted to Florence musicians from all over Italy and beyond, making the city a centre of excellence and innovation. Among those who enjoyed his patronage was the 22-year-old Handel, whose first Italian opera “Rodrigo” was staged in Florence in 1707.

Ferdinando’s role in musical history has been recognised since the late 19th century, when scholars began to re-examine his life and times. What has been all but forgotten were his energetic activities as a collector and patron of the visual arts.

THE INVENTION OF THE PIANO Bartolomeo Cristofori dedicated his work to experimenting with new materials for his instruments and creating innovative sounds, making an elegant spinet and a precious harpsichord in an ebony case. The most amazing discovery is finding the “piano”, or pianoforte in Italian, documented for the very first time in history. This was the invention of a keyboard instrument where the chords aren’t plucked; they’re hit by little hammers that produce softer and less “silvery” sounds than the harpsichord.

TRADIVARI’S AND AMATI’S S INSTRUMENTS In the midst of ancient harpsichords, wind instruments and percussion, you will find a unique piece by the master Antonio Stradivari.

The viola on exhibit at the Musical Instruments Museum of Florence is a one-of-a-kind by Stradivari and is perfectly conserved in its original condition. It was built in spruce and maple for the exceptional Medici Quintet, a group of two violins, two violas, and a cello. Elegance and outstanding sophistication are found in its exquisite mother of pearl, ivory and ebony inlay, and in the details of the Medici crest that make it unique.

TENOR VIOLA OF THE “MEDICI” QUINTET 1690

VIOLONCELLO AMATIF

PIANO CREATED BY BARTOLOMEO CRISTOFORI 42

But this is not the only Stradivari piece on display, there’s also a violin from 1716 and a cello from 1690.

Furthermore there are a violin and a cello of 1650 by Niccolò Amati, an important luitist who teached to Stradivari.

VERTICAL PIANO, GALLIANO

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