Please join for a lecture with:
Michele Geraci, Former Undersecretary of State,
Italian Ministry of Economic Development
Moderated by:
Maria Adele Carrai, Associate Research Scholar,
Weatherhead East Asian Institute;
Marie Curie Fellow,
KU Leuven School of Law
Italy was the first G7 country to sign the MoU with China on the One Belt One Road. It has attracted lots of criticism both from part of the domestic political parties and from Italy’s traditional allies in Europe and the US. Mr. Michele Geraci has been the main promoter of this MoU, as a mean to boost trade since Italian exports to China and investment flows have lagged those of other European peers. Debt Trap, selling of national assets and national security were mentioned as areas where Italy should be careful, but with so many other countries joining, formally or not the BRI, the Italian government and Mr. Geraci have felt the need that more proactive trade promotion activity towards China was needed, leaving unchanged its Atlantic and European alliances
About the Speaker:
Michele Geraci is former Undersecretary of State at the Italian Ministry of Economic Development, responsible for Trade and Investment and the main promoter of MoU on Belt&Road between Italy and China (from FT: www.tinyurl.com/yx38cytx ). Prior to that, he had lived for ten years in China where he analyzed the Chinese economy and held finance and economics teaching roles in various universities, including Nottingham, NYU-Shanghai and Zhejiang University. Prior to moving to China, Mr. Geraci was an Investment Banker in the City of London and an Electronic Engineer for over 20 years. Immediately before taking his role as undersecretary, he was named as a choice among four nominees for Italy’s Prime Minister. He is a frequent guest on major international media and has been awarded Italian Knighthood honor by Italian President Mattarella. He holds an MBA from MIT Sloan.
This is a Weatherhead East Asian Institute Lectures and Panels event.
Cosponsored by: European Institute at Columbia University, Columbia-Harvard China and the World Program
No registration Required.