(ANSA) - TRIESTE, 29 APR - "It is self-evident that if Italy
is fine, Germany is fine too, and I think vice versa too, given
that there are strong ties between our countries in terms of
industrial and commercial relations. In Germany, we are
suffering from the strong impact on the economy of the pandemic
crisis, but for this year, we expect an important recovery,
around 3%, even if we will not fill the gap caused by the
recession." German ambassador to Italy, Viktor Elbling, said
about relations between Italy and Germany in an interview
released on Top500, an event organized yesterday by the Gedi
Group. "For the years to come, it is difficult to say what will
happen in Germany; it will depend a lot on the progress of the
pandemic - he continued -, but the outlook is quite positive,
and there is a climate of confidence among companies. We have an
important economic program - he added - for an expenditure of
about 130 bn euros, 5% of our GDP, for investments in important
sectors such as digital infrastructures, sustainable mobility,
quantum computing, which are strategic sectors also for your
country." The ambassador then focused on the interest of German
companies to continue investing in Italy. "When we talk to
German companies that have historically invested in Italy - he
said - we can certify there is strong confidence in the
development of your country and we look at the long tradition of
relations with companies and also with regions such as Veneto
and Friuli Venezia Giulia. The companies have every intention of
staying - he underlined - and indeed of expanding their
investments, even in these difficult times." Among the strengths
of Italy, "towards which I do not feel neutral, since my mother
is Italian. Like many Germans, I feel a lot of sympathy and
closeness for this country", Elbling finally said, "well I see
many strengths of which we talk about too little, such as a
great ability to adapt, creativity even in difficult situations,
as we have seen with the pandemic, and I believe that there is
great potential here for Europe as well. Italy still has a lot
to give." (ANSA).
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