Annual Italian business awards ceremony to be held in Shanghai

The China-Italy Chamber of Commerce (CICC) will hold a gala dinner June 16 to present the 3rd annual Pando D'Oro awards and promote Italian craftsmanship and lifestyle in China.

The awards honor companies and individuals, Italian and Chinese, who have most contributed to the strengthening and development of Sino-Italian economic relations.

Now in their third year, the awards are divided into four categories. The first recognizes the Italian company that has demonstrated considerably high levels of growth in the Chinese market in 2011 and plans further investments this year and in 2013. The second honors the Italian business that has best promoted the "Made in Italy" brand in China. A third category recognizes the Italian or Chinese enterprise that has distinguished itself promoting Italy or China as a tourist destination and the final category honors the most successful Italian SME in China.

Collaboration between the Italian Chamber of Commerce in China and the Fondazione Italia China and sponsorship from the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Economic Development and the Embassy of Italy in China have made the awards possible.

Franco Cutrupia, Chairman of the Italian Chamber of Commerce in China, and His Excellency Attilio Massimo Iannucci, the Ambassador of Italy in China and Honorary Chairman of the Chamber, will chair the jury of the awards ceremony.

The gala will feature a gourmet menu with a selection of fine wines and the Shanghai-based Italian band Nello & the Cats, who will entertain guests with a variety of popular Italian songs. Local Chinese artists will also perform, thanks to the support of the vice mayor of Jining, Shandong province.