Italian-Russian Chamber of Commerce Criticises Politicization of Business With Russia

ST. PETERSBURG (Sputnik) - Italian entrepreneurs spoke out against the current political situation hindering doing business with Russia, Vincenzo Trani, the president of the Italian-Russian Chamber of Commerce, said on Thursday.

"I am a businessman and I represent a lot of Italian companies and we do not want to get involved in politics. We choose our political leader, but we ourselves do not want to mix business and politics," Trani said on the sidelines of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF).

Political responsibility has no place in business, Trani noted, adding that the Italian-Russian Chamber of Commerce, which includes both Russian and Italian companies, "could become a bridge between the sides."

Trani's view was echoed by Emmanuel Quidet, the head of the French-Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, who said that the association is working closely with the Russian government to retain its business presence in the country.

"We are working much better now together with the Russian Business Association and other organizations, we are working much better with the Russian government to make sure that we help each other through these difficult times and stay," Quidet said on the sidelines of the SPIEF.

French entrepreneurs believe that it is impossible to permanently shut down all business in Russia because of the political situation, Quidet noted.

According to him, French businesses have taken roots in Russia and are responsible for thousands of employees.

The 25th SPIEF was declared open on Wednesday and will run through Saturday. Sputnik is an official media partner of the event.