MUMBAI, NOV 20: The Impresa'99 awards for the best contribution to Indo-Italian trade relations instituted jointly by the Indo-Italian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Business Publications Division of The Indian Express group has been awarded this year to UB Global Corporation Ltd in the large corporate houses category and Ring Plus Aqua Ltd in the small and medium scale category. UB Global Corporation Ltd, engaged in the manufacture of leather products, liquor, beer, chemicals, engineering, marine and processed foods, granite etc has bagged the award for introducing its own brand UB Nico Nerini, named after the renowned Italian shoemaker, in Italy.The company has also adopted an innovative way of exporting its products and has established a long-term contract and direct distribution in the retail market in Italy. UB Global has also achieved ISO 9000 quality certification for its Bombay Breweries. Ring Plus Aqua Ltd has won the award in the small and medium scale category. As a manufacturer ofRing Gears, it has adopted an efficient marketing strategy with innovative designs in the Italian market. The company through the latest technological advancements has been able to transform production from conventional methods to modern methods leading to a saving in raw materials and energy and reduced operations.At an impressive ceremony held jointly by the Indo-Italian Chamber and The Indian Express group here yesterday, the awards were given away by Dr Benedetto Amari, Italy's Ambassador to India. ``Trade was increasingly becoming an option for companies and the volume of trade between India and Italy from 1991 to this year had nearly trebled reaching almost US $ 2.5 billion,'' he said, adding that importers and exporters were called to think strategically and public institutions were called to sustain the efforts being undertaken by the private sector, providing them updated services of information and operational assistance.In his introductory remarks, Nerinder Nayar said a turning point inIndo-Italian trade was the Indian Engineering Trade Fair in 1995 where Italy was partner country. He said the awards were instituted because the need was felt to recognise excellence in business.Meanwhile, the Italian government is to extend a line of credit of US $ 5.5 million (Italian lira 10 billion) to the small and medium scale industry in India by the end of this year, Amari said.Addressing the seminar on Business Tourism in Lombardy and the Milanese Trade Show System organised jointly by the Indo-Italian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IICCI) the region of Lombardy, Fiera Milano and the Milan Chamber of Commerce/Promos, the Ambassador who was chief guest at the function said, the Italian government really hoped that the Indian regulatory framework would continue to go ``investor-friendly''.The Ambassador, who presented his credentials to the government just 12 days ago and made his first public address at the seminar, said public institutions were called to concretely promote theinternationalisation of companies, specially the small and medium enterprises. It was in recognition of this factor, that the Indian and Italian governments had signed an MoU on SMES in January 1998.Making comparisons between Milan and Mumbai and the region of Lombardy and Maharashtra state, Amari said like Mumbai, Milan was a prominent economic and financial pole for Italy. Similarly, Lombardy was host to some of the most advanced industrial clusters of Italy and of major trade fairs and exhibitions.
