April Smart Talk - Italian-Cypriot Chamber of Commerce
It was held on April 27th monthly Smart Talk organized by the Italian-Cypriot Chamber of Commerce, which saw as guest Mr. Pierluigi Petrone, President of Assoram, the National Association of Logistic and Commercial Operators of Primary Pharmaceutical Distribution.
After the introductory greetings by the President of the Italian-Cypriot Chamber of Commerce Giuseppe Marino, Vice President Costas Katsaros discussed with Mr. Petrone about the Healthcare sector and Pharmaceutical Distribution.
The Smart Talk was enhanced by explaining the role of Assoram, which, since 1965, is operating in the Italian market as the most ancient pharmaceutical association in defense of health logistic companies to enhance distribution strategic role within the healthcare supply chain, and managing more than 90% of pharmaceutical products in terms of distribution.
Mr. Petrone is in direct contact on weekly basis with the Commissary of the vaccines and with the Italian Parliament to discuss vaccine distribution, which does not have significant differences within the European Union Countries in terms of logistics, as the EU operates as a single player.
Then, regarding vaccines, medicines, and testing tools for Covid-19 Mr. Petrone highlighted how Cyprus can be a wonderful hub in the Mediterranean region, being a bridge between the Middle East, Europe, and North Africa that will soon demand the same European health standards. In terms of manufacturing and logistic, on which also Italy is taking important steps further, it is fundamental to be ready not only to face the Covid-19 pandemic but also for any other emergency that can arrive in the future.
Furthermore, the discussion offered some insights into the actual situation of the vaccines: there are only four out of five vaccines available in the European market, which have been approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA), but other fifteen new vaccines are on discovery stage and they will probably be available in the market by the end of 2021, beginning of 2022. However, to be able to return to normality, we have to find the perfect balance between the number of vaccines to reach the herd immunity (at least 70% of the population) and the respect of the main special rules we are getting used to, in terms of wearing masks, washing hands, and social distancing.
Finally, Pierluigi Petrone, who joined the Italian-Cypriot Chamber of Commerce as a Member of the Advisory Board last November, underlined how he is honored to be part of the to fulfill the cooperation between Italy and Cyprus and how the activity of the Chamber allows people to acknowledge about Cyprus opportunities and fiscal advantages
Then he concluded the Smart Talk with these words: “It’s a pleasure to speak under the chamber aegis because if a thought stays in your mind, no ideas can be born, but if you can share the thoughts and information that you have in your head with others, then they become an idea that can spark a new fire. Only friendship and dialogues like this one could be the right spark for doing something new!”
Τhe link of the video of the event is available on the Chamber's Youtube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LA5MbmFslcI
For information and insights on the content of this article and the activities of the Italian-Cypriot Chamber of Commerce: segreteria@camcomitacipro.it
