(ANSA) - TRIESTE, JUN 6 - First trading partner of the Balkans by 2020 with a trade that has grown by 48% in about six years and which continues to increase. This is Italy's goal, as indicated at the Trieste Eastern Europe Investment Forum, organized by FeBAF (Federation of Insurance and Finance Banks) with the MIB Trieste School of Management, which is attended by Paolo Garonna, general secretary of FeBAF, and Gabrieli Galateri di Genola, chairman of Assicurazioni Generali.

An initial assessment was made of the relationship with the countries of Eastern Europe with the hope for greater integration, which also includes the financial markets, which should adopt regulatory initiatives which are closer to the EU standards. In 2016, Italian exports to the Western Balkans amounted to 6 billion euros, coming second behind Germany. With over 700 companies, Italy's economy comes first in terms of foreign investment (9 billion), mainly in Albania (4.8), Slovenia (1.3) and Serbia (1.1). Between 2010 and 2016, the value of trade increased by 47.9%, from 5.1bn to almost 7.5bn and a further increase was recorded in 2017. (ANSA).