The Italy-China Foundation, with the patronage of CONI (the Italian Olympic Committee) and the Ministry of Economic Development, has organised the third edition of the China Awards, annual prizes awarded in recognition of Italian companies that have made the most of the Chinese market’s potential and Chinese companies that have made the most of the Italian market’s potential.The aim of this event is to stress the importance of internationalisation for both Italian and Chinese businesses, underlining the benefits that can be derived from the interflow of capital, personnel, ideas, goods and services between Italy and China. It also offers notable visibility to those Italian companies that have been successful in China, thanks to the media partnership with the Class Editori publishing group.
The awards ceremony was accompanied by a Gala Dinner and held at the Hotel Principe di Savoia in Milan on Thursday 27 November 2008. Among the guests were all the Italian gold medal winners at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. The proceeds of this Charity Dinner will go to Lifeline Express, a non-profit organisation that provides medical treatment and surgical operations for people suffering from cataract. As documented by the photographs on show at the event, Lifeline Express’s hospital trains reach the poorest and remotest regions of China.
Caleffi’s prize was accepted by its Director General Giovanni Monti (top left photo), who expressed his satisfaction at the results being achieved by the group in China and his conviction that still greater achievements can be attained. Monti’s heart-felt congratulations – accompanied by those of Luca Bonini, the Export Manager who was also present at the event – go to our commercial office in Peking: the people who had the idea of launching a major brand communications campaign on Beijing’s public transport vehicles, which made a notable impact and reinforced the limited but significant presence of our products in prestigious Olympic projects. This, of course, was just the most visible aspect of a profound and constant activity promoting sector technical awareness and the patient exportation of Italian expertise year after year.
We take this opportunity to officially dedicate this prize to the Director of our commercial offices in Beijing and Shanghai, Shu Xue Song, along with the excellent team that he has established around him, in recognition of his perseverance in carrying out intensive and well focussed communications policies, and above all for the enthusiasm and conviction with which he has been projecting Caleffi’s company values on the Chinese market for over ten years now.
(A sincere “thank you” also goes to the Foundation’s Communications Office)