(AVN – Regione Veneto press office) – Venice, 16 July 2010

The Veneto region will have a diplomatic counsellor. A memorandum of understanding was signed in Venice between the Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr Franco Frattini and the president of Regione Veneto Mr Luca Zaia.
Mr Zaia was pleased to disclose the appointment of Stefano Beltrame – currently working in the USA – as the new diplomatic counsellor collaborating with Regione Veneto.

The Veneto region will be able to build more and more international relations in the most appropriate way, aligned with the government’s principles and with Minister Frattini’s philosophy of trade diplomacy to the benefit of our communities and entrepreneurs.
Mr Zaia underlined that the Veneto region is very interested in internationalisation, even concerning connections which allow more relations.
Mr Frattini reminded the vision of a diplomatic network serving the national economic system which he shared with Mr Zaia during their common governing experience.
Frattini went on to explain that: «We still share this common vision, and I confirm the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ commitment to involve the Veneto system in the world diplomatic network. It is a system promoting investment opportunities, tourist attractions, development opportunities in this region. Thanks to this agreement, the Veneto region will experience the enrichment of its opportunities».
Finally, Frattini explained that the Veneto region will have a diplomatic counsellor, that is, a Foreign Affairs Ministry officer in charge of directly co-operating with president Zaia and the Regione Veneto.
Frattini concluded by reminding that Mr Beltrame is currently the head of the economic and commercial section of the Italian embassy in Washington D.C., and that his experience will be applied to the benefit of the Veneto region, which is nowadays a natural connection point for investments towards the East.