October 31st, 2006

Italian Chamber of Commerce in British Columbia and Alberta becomes head of NAFTA Area

The President of the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Canada - Vancouver Edmonton Calgary (ICCC), Lucio Sacchetti, was elected to the office of NAFTA Area Representative at the Area Meeting held at the Grand Hotel Serbelloni in Bellagio, Italy on October 22nd, 2006 during the World Convention of the Foreign Italian Chambers of Commerce.

As Area Representative, Mr. Sacchetti represents the four Italian Chambers of Commerce in Canada (Montreal, Toronto, Winnipeg and Vancouver / Edmonton / Calgary); the five Italian Chambers of Commerce in the US (New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami and Houston) and the Italian Chamber of Commerce of Mexico. He also sits on the board of Assocamerestero, the organization that represents the 73 Italian Chambers of Commerce spread throughout the world that are officially recognized by the Italian Government. The board is made up of the Representatives of the 7 geo-economic areas : Europe, Mediterranean, Australia, Asia, South America, Central America and the Caribbean, and NAFTA as well as representatives from Italy.

As a longtime economic partner of Italy, the NAFTA Area is considered of vital importance and the role of Area Representative is pivotal in the cultivation of this relationship.

Until Mr. Sacchetti's election, the role of Area Representative was held exclusively by the Chamber Presidents of New York and Montreal. With this unprecedented shift of focus to Western Canada, the opportunities for companies in the West to create and strengthen business ties will expand significantly.

Mr. Sacchetti has been the President of the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Canada - Vancouver Edmonton Calgary for the past three years in a volunteer capacity. He is an entrepreneur born in the Region of Abruzzo, Italy, and as the President of CMC Engineering & Management Inc is presently reorganizing the countrywide food supply chain in India. Over his career he has worked in over 50 countries over 5 continents in the past 40 years, specializing in the restructuring of companies and processes mainly in the agri-food sector.

For more information, please contact Elizabeth Iachelli, Executive Director of the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Canada at 604 682 1410.