The Consul General of Italy in San Francisco, Sergio Strozzi, inaugurated on 08 May the first Honorary Consulate of Italy in the State of Idaho.
Dr. Ronald Gambassi, consultant and investment expert, was sworn in as the first Honorary Consul, in a ceremony that occurred in the council chambers of Boise’s City Hall, in the presence of Idaho’s Lt. Governor, Scott Bedke, Boise Mayor Lauren McLean, and one hundred and fifty guests representing both Italy and America.
In an excerpt from his inaugural speech, Consul General Strozzi stated, “This is a historic moment for relations between Italy and Idaho. We are opening today, in Boise, the first Italian consular office in this important and dynamic U.S. State. We will reinforce the ties between enterprises, businesses, and investors on both sides, the partnerships between universities and researchers both locally and in Italy, as well as cultural and social initiatives. To reach our objective, we will leverage on the presence, in Boise and other Idahoan cities, of a numerous and extremely qualified Italian community composed of scientists, teachers, and university researchers, of managers and engineers of tech companies, and of businesses such as Micron Technology, which has its headquarters in Boise but is extremely active in Italy, with investments and branch offices that handle research, engineering, design, development, and the commercialization of products. I am pleased that the opening of the new Honorary Consulate in Idaho is occurring under the leadership of the Italian Ambassador to the United States, Mariangela Zappia, who enthusiastically and skillfully supports every project that brings “più Italia” (“more Italy”) to new States and territories of the U.S.”
The Honorary Consulate of Italy in Boise will have jurisdiction over both Idaho and Montana, where Italy has a Consular Corrispondent, Professor Elvira Roncalli, and its opening aims also to speed up and improve access to Consular services for the Italian community of both states.
