Friday, 23 June 2023, Düsseldorf, NRW, Germany: Premier Hendrik Wüst received the President of the Italian region of Piedmont and partner region of North Rhine-Westphalia, Alberto Cirio, for talks at the State Chancellery. Topics of the exchange included perspectives for further cooperation, the challenges of transforming the economy and dealing with the consequences of the Russian war of aggression on Ukraine. European Affairs Minister Nathanael Liminski also partook in the meeting.
Premier Hendrik Wüst said as per statement provided below in its native German language: “North Rhine-Westphalia and the Piedmont region have a lot in common: a long industrial history, a comparable structure of the economy and similar challenges of industrial change. We can learn and benefit from each other on key issues for the future. With President Cirio, we have agreed to continue the successful exchange of expertise on the important topics of hydrogen, artificial intelligence, autonomous driving and agriculture. In addition, we are working together to bring young people from North Rhine-Westphalia and Piedmont together – for example, through the exchange of schoolchildren.
Minister for Federal, European and International Affairs and the Media, Nathanael Liminski: “Like North Rhine-Westphalia, our partner region Piedmont lies at the heart of Europe. Our common interest is a strong European Union. With our regional partnership, we strengthen cohesion in Europe and at the same time create clear added value for both partners – by working together on future issues, cooperating in Brussels and bringing young people together.”
The Italian region of Piedmont and North Rhine-Westphalia had laid the foundation for intensive cooperation with a partnership agreement in February 2022. The Piedmont region has 4.3 million inhabitants and is the largest mainland region in Italy in terms of area, with external borders with Switzerland and France. North Rhine-Westphalia is home to over 141,300 people with roots in Italy – one in four Italians living in Germany. With a trade volume of 23.8 billion euros, Italy ranks sixth among North Rhine-Westphalia’s trading partners, ahead of Poland and after the USA. Around 400 Italian subsidiaries with 16,400 employees are based in North Rhine-Westphalia. There are 17 city partnerships, including Cologne with Turin, Unna with Pisa, Bonn with Frascati and Oberhausen with Iglesias.
On his first visit to North Rhine-Westphalia, President Alberto Cirio was accompanied by Minister for Industry Andrea Tronzano.
For further information
Government of NRW: https://www.land.nrw/pressemitteilung/ministerpraesident-hendrik-wuest-empfaengt-den-praesidenten-von-piemont-alberto
Region of Piedmont: https://www.regione.piemonte.it/web/amministrazione/organi/alberto-cirio
Embassy of Italy in Germany Ambassador Armando Varricchio: https://ambberlino.esteri.it/ambasciata_berlino/it/
