Letter-appeal to the Prime Minister Prof. Giuseppe Conte

Assocamerestero Marchio3righe IT Colore

Letter-appeal to the Prime Minister Prof. Giuseppe Conte: the CCIE network requires enhanced access to the funds put in place for export

In the restarting phase of Italy, the Italian chamber system abroad is doing its part to assist companies and Italian manufacturers to relaunch Made in Italy in the world and to strengthen export agreements that are put in place by the Italian government.

Export accounts for almost a third of the value of GDP in Italy but the latest estimates foresee a 14% reduction in 2020. The vitality of the internationalization process is directly linked to the ability of Italian SMEs to maintain competitiveness abroad in the post-Covid scenario -19.

In this context, Assocamerestero underlines – in a letter sent to the President of the Council on behalf of all the CCIE – the need that in the economic measures under discussion in the Chamber of Deputies (Decree Law “Relaunch Italy”) there is concrete attention to the extraordinary contribution of the network of 81 CCIE that is operating in 58 countries and supporting almost 70 thousand exporting companies.

In first place among the CCIE services are business scouting services for positioning on the foreign market (35% of the services provided), followed by networking activities (25%) and the organization of trade missions of foreign buyers (20 %).

The activity on the CCIE market allows the reduced contribution of the State to be multiplied by more than five times, but the global crisis caused by Covid-19 risks undermining its efficiency, just when there is a need for full and greater operation.

Many initiatives were put in place during the health emergency. In addition to supporting – alongside the diplomatic network – the procurement of essential health material for the country, more than 300 information, training and assistance actions have been carried out for companies, largely with the use of the digital network. And at least another 350 are scheduled by July.

“We put the contribution of those abroad working with businesses every day at the service of Italy. We have firmly adhered to the Export Agreement, thanks to the 300 thousand business contacts developed each year and the over 20 thousand companies, Italian and foreign, associated with the network. The CCIE have always largely self-financed on the market, but the global crisis caused by Covid-19 has compromised numerous initiatives already planned, seriously jeopardizing the activity of the chamber system. At this stage, therefore, it is more urgent than ever to guarantee the effectiveness and full operation of the network, which is precious for businesses and for the country as a whole “- said Gian Domenico Auricchio, President of Assocamerestero.


Article Source: Assocamerestero

COVID-19 EMERGENCY: Online Platform for supplier’s products/services Registration

As requested by the Office of the Extraordinary Commissioner for COVID-19 Emergency, please note that a specific online platform has been created for national and international companies interested in supplying products and services useful to face Covid-19 Emergency.

By registering to the website  https://registrationcovid.invitalia.it (the page is also available in in Italian and there is also a help desk for technical support), companies will be able to access to a secure area to:


•          have a look at the requirements

•          present their own offers of products and services, based on the needs

•         finalize purchase orders 

•          update their company’s registration information


This supplier registration is important to get accredited as official suppliers for any medical-health supply material requests and/or any other services.

 

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Join the Domenica Fiore Feeds Vancouver Campaign

Help Feed Those in Need

Stock up on the world’s finest olive oil and help Vancouver’s most vulnerable. We’re all in this together.

The Domenica Fiore Feeds Vancouver Campaign goes until May 24th

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The Italian Chamber of Commerce in Canada West is pleased to share the below ‘Feed Vancouver’ campaign by our member, Domenica Fiore. Domenica Fiore is producer of premium Made in Italy extra virgin olive oils. Each bottle of premium olive oil is numbered and dated showing when the olives were harvested, which orchard they were harvested from as well as when they were milled. Domenica Fiore’s premium oils are certified organic by QCertificazioni, which is regulated by the Italian Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Forestry, and by Canada.

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Since the COVID-19 crisis began, Vancouver’s most vulnerable citizens have become increasingly isolated and at risk of not getting the nourishment they need.

  • Many seniors do not feel safe going out and have limited ability to obtain food.
  • Some people residing in assisted living facilities no longer have access to the low cost food.
  • And a number of childrens’ school meal programs have been suspended.

To help address these growing issues, now when you buy selected Domenica Fiore olive oil, 50% of the purchase price will be donated to provide nourishing meals to these vulnerable groups.


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How to Help

 

  1. Select the olive oil(s) that you would like to purchase
  2. Place your order
  3. We’ll donate 50% of the purchase price of your order to The Giustra Foundation’s COVID-19 Emergency Feeding Initiative.

 

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Feed Vancouver’s Most Vulnerable Photo

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Feed Vancouver’s Most Vulnerable Italian Olive Oil

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Products Available

 

  1. Reserva
  2. Novello
  3. Veritas
  4. Monaco

Each olive oil comes in a 500ml bottle.

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Who This Helps

Fifty percent of your purchase price goes to The Giustra Foundation’s COVID-19 Emergency Feeding Initiative.

By working with community groups like Streetohome Foundation, Food Stash and Vancouver Food Runners, The Giustra Foundation is able to identify the people in our city who are suffering most. These include seniors, single mothers and children in particular. Many recipients are living in low income housing facilities and have lost access to low cost food sources. These meal programs provide one or two fulfilling meals a day, depending on specific needs.


About the Giustra Foundation

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, The Giustra Foundation has been working closely with other non-profits, the private sector and government in Vancouver to establish an emergency feeding initiative that provides healthy meals to low-income women and children, vulnerable seniors and others in need in our community.

For over two decades, The Giustra Foundation has supported innovative solutions to some of the world’s most pressing humanitarian and economic challenges.


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Ready to Save Lives With Your Tax Money? Italy is Calling!

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Please find below the call for help from the Embassy of Italy in Ottawa.

 

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[dropcaps type=’circle’ font_size=’70’ color=” background_color=” border_color=”]I[/dropcaps]Italy is living through one of the most difficult and painful times in its recent history.

Over 110,000 thousand sick, more than 13,000 dead, and some 4,000 persons in Intensive Care in critical condition.  Our healthcare system is under enormous pressure; our doctors and nurses are face-to-face with the impact of the pandemic every day, fighting the devastating effects of Covid-19. Many of them have been infected, over 50 physicians have lost their lives, but they are not giving up — they continue to answer the call of their country and its people with extraordinary dedication and generosity. 

The Italian Government is working ceaselessly to reduce the impact of the disease, by increasing the financial resources devoted to this battle and by searching the world for the health equipment needed to fill this unprecedented demand.  But it is still not enough; we must do more!

To help support the fight against this terrible pandemic and do our part, we have, together with the Canadian Red Cross, launched a fundraising campaign Covid-19.AiutiAMOl’Italia!”. The funds we will raise will go directly to the Italian Red Cross, to support it and the Italian Civil Protection in their efforts to fight Covid-19.

Inspired by the love that so many of you feel for the land of your heritage, by the solidarity we have for those on the front lines of this battle, by the human bond we share with those men and women who are exposed to the disease and its fatal consequences, for the part of them that is in each of us, in support of all human lives…

If you would like additional information on the campaign, please visit the website at  http://www.redcross.ca/ItalyCovidAppeal/HelpItaly 

Together we will get through this!  With my most heartfelt thanks,  

                                                                                     Claudio Taffuri 

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FAQ

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Yes. Donations of $20 or more via cheque will be mailed a tax receipt.

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Your donation will help the most vulnerable in Italy make it through these uncertain times.

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For online donations, please click on the button below to be directed to Red Cross Canada’s donation page.

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If you would like to send a cheque, please make it payable to ‘Canadian Red Cross’ and write ‘COVID Italy/Help Italy’ in the memo section and mail to:

National Processing Centre
Canadian Red Cross
P.O. Box 39
Saint John, NB E2L 3X3

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On behalf of the Embassy of Italy in Canada, we would like to extend our deepest gratitude for your donation during these trying moments.

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AbCellera,  a 2013 New Ventures BC Competition finalist, has been named to Fast Company’s prestigious list of the  World’s Most Innovative Companies for 2020. The list honours the businesses making the most profound impact on both industry and society.  AbCellera’s drug discovery platform searches and analyzes natural immune systems to deliver best-in-class antibody drugs, and currently it’s being used to respond to the COVID-19 outbreak. They’re leading a team of industry expert in  the Pandemic Prevention Platform program and working on discovering neutralizing antibodies that could ultimately be deployed to stop the transmission of the coronavirus.

On March 12, AbCellera and Eli Lilly and Company announced they have entered into an agreement to co-develop antibody products for the treatment and prevention of COVID-19, the disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 novel coronavirus. 

Within one week of receiving a blood sample from one of the first U.S. patients who recovered from COVID-19, AbCellera screened over 5 million immune cells looking for ones that produced functional antibodies that helped the patient neutralize the virus and recover from the disease. From this effort, AbCellera has identified over 500 unique fully human antibody sequences, the largest panel of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies ever reported. The next step is to screen these antibodies to find the ones most effective in neutralizing SARS-CoV-2. Many of these antibodies will be expressed in collaboration with partners at the Vaccine Research Center (VRC) at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health, and pending agreement with NIAID will be tested for their ability to neutralize the virus.

 

Content in this article is inspired by a feature on Innovate BC platform and AbCellera online news. 

Support for B.C. Businesses Affected by COVID-19

In over 2300 responses to the BC Chamber’s COVID-19 Business Impacts Survey, eighty percent of respondents said that their “revenue and deal flow” is dropping – and almost 90% think it will continue to fall.

Business is asking government for three things above all else:

  1. To work with banks and lending institutions to offer zero-interest loans, load guarantees, or lines of credit
  2. to be more flexible around timelines for tax remittances;
  3. to enhance EI access or wage replacement for employees.

In response to the survey feedback, the government of British Columbia is working to remove red tape and get cash flowing to the business community.

In the meantime, some immediate measures have been announced to assist with SME’s liquidity, operational concerns, and business continuity plans.


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Resources for Business

These resources are made available to mitigate immediate business costs. Note that restrictions may apply, so kindly defer to each organization’s website for details.

Financial Support/Relief

  • Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) has resources available including:
  • BC Hydro: The COVID-19 Customer Assistance Program provides customers the option to defer bill payments or arrange for flexible payment plans with no penalty. Customers are encouraged to call BC Hydro’s customer team at 1 800 BCHYDRO (1 800 224 9376) to discuss options.
  • CMHC is working to address mortgage payment difficulties. They’ve said on twitter that they are collaborating with lenders to allow payment deferral of up to six months.
  • Export Development Canada (EDC). In partnership with the federal government and Canadian banks, EDC will ensure customers impacted by COVID-19 have access to credit.

 

Operational/Staffing Support

  • Employment and Social Development Canada: Several measures are available to assist employees who have been laid off, or are unable to work due to quarantine. This includes: waiving the one-week waiting period for EI sickness benefits, and priority application processing for related claims.
  • Uber Eats: The company has created a support package to promote “contactless” delivery from local restaurants, which includes waiving delivery fees, and a daily payout option to assist restaurants with cash flow.
  • Work-Sharing Program: Work-Sharing is a federal government adjustment program designed to help employers and employees avoid layoffs when there is a temporary reduction in the normal level of business activity that is beyond the control of the employer. Temporary special measures have extended the maximum duration of work-sharing agreements from 38 weeks to 76 weeks for businesses affected by COVID-19

 

General Information

 

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