Italians to promote local businesses and tourism

Over the next 2-3 years, the Italian government intends to invest around EUR 6 million in the development of small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Podlasie, and to increase cooperation in tourism with this region. The plans have been proposed by representatives of the Polish-Italian Chamber of Commerce in Milan and the Italian fund Clerici, which is responsible for drafting such projects. According to Karol Tylenda from the Podlaskie voivodship management, thanks to the project a system of loans and guarantees will operate to support SMEs. He added that companies should be able to apply for support as early as the beginning of next year. The mutual cooperation in tourism involves the creation of a joint internet portal and the mutual promotion of tourist attractions in the Podlasie and Lombardy regions. (www.onet.pl) A.Z