President Monti visits New York

IAF Chairman Stefano Acunto remarks on Prime Minister Monti: [at 8:54 minutes]

After three months in office, Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti visited “the city of the stock market”, as he describes New York.  His intention was to instill confidence in American investors and applaud the Italian and Italian-American community in the United States for honoring their Italian heritage and remaining an integral part in the history of America. His words did not fall on deaf ears, as over 200 packed the Card Room of the New York Stock Exchange in order to hear Monti speak about the future of Italians both in Europe and the USA.

“He is capitalizing upon America’s longstanding affection for Italy,” said Stefano Acunto, IAF President and honorary vice consul of New York. “You cannot underestimate the presence in financial circles of people of Italian extraction who have affection for Italy.”

In his speech, Prime Minister Monti praised the achievements of the Italians living in America and of the Italian-Americans, claiming that their success and hard-work were a significant stimulus for Italy itself. “I hope that the progress we are making in Italy will make every Italian and Italian-American citizen more proud of his Italian heritage,” declared Monti, fully aware that many in the audience had grown weary of former PM Silvio Berlusconi’s flamboyant theatrics and inability to relieve the debt crisis plaguing the third-largest European economy. Impressed by Italy’s quick turnaround and Monti’s demeanor, American investors hope that he can continue his impressive inaugural campaign.