(By Paul Virgo).
Premier Matteo Renzi showed that
he intends to use a four-day visit to the United States to
flaunt Italy's business champions when he kicked off the visit
in Nevada on Tuesday.
Renzi's first engagement was a trip to ENEL's Stillwater
plant, which he said demonstrated the way to move forward.
"Stillwater is a symbol of the possible cooperation
between the USA and Italy," Renzi said at the groundbreaking
combined solar energy and geothermal power plant.
"The future is energy and technology.
"If we invest in technology, we can create a new world.
"This is big space for cooperation between the USA and
Italy. We can cooperate not just in traditional fields, but in
renewable energies too.
"Old values and new energies are the strategy of
friendship between Italy and the United States".
The premier said Italy "should be proud of" ENEL as it is
a global firm whose heart and mind remain in Italy.
"We will continue growing it, including via innovative
ultra broadband projects (which) we will present on April 7,"
the premier said.
Renzi also announced Tuesday that ENEL Green Power, ENEL's
renewable energy subsidiary, has won a 1.5-billion-euro contract
in Mexico.
"In Nevada more good news arrives with Enel Green Power,"
Renzi said via Twitter.
"1.5-billion-euro Mexico competition won. Increasingly
leader in energy #Italypride (#orgoglioItalia).
Renzi visits Chicago on March 30, Boston on March 31, and
takes part in the Nuclear Security Summit in Washington, DC, on
April 1.
The premier said on Facebook Tuesday that Italy will mark
the 30th anniversary of its connection to the Internet on April
30.
Regions and schools will hold events, and the government
will seek bids from ultra broad band providers in what will be
its first such request for bids aimed at bringing high-speed
Internet throughout Italy by 2020, Renzi said.
"Italy was the fourth European country to get connected
after Norway, Britain and East Germany (on April 30, 1986),"
Renzi wrote, referring to the connection by scientists at the
National Research Center in Pisa.
"(That date) lives on in the minds and hearts of the
Internet pioneers - those who imagined, wanted and made the
connection to the computer network a reality.
"First among them are Stefano Trumpy, Luciano Lenzini and
Blasco Bonito, who were in Pisa on the first Internet Day - all
men from the CNR".
The premier added the government is "committed to filling
the digital gap over the next four years" by bringing high-speed
Internet to every Italian citizen.
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