AMBASSADOR
H . E . Giulio Alaimo has recently been appointed Ambassador of Italy to the Principality of Monaco as a result of a brilliant diplomatic career started in March 1991 when he was named a ‘ Diplomat Volunteer ’ after passing the State examination in Rome . Successfully completing the vocational training and serving the Directorate-General for Economic Affairs and the Prime Minister ’ s Office in Rome over a period of time , he held his first mission as First Commercial Secretary at the Italian Embassy in Islamabad ( Pakistan ). From 1998 until 2002 , he acted as Consul General and Legation Councillor in La Plata ( Argentina ). In 2005 , he was designated Counsellor for Emigration and Social Affairs at the Embassy in Ottawa ( Canada ) and later , in 2007 , he was assigned the post of First Counsellor for Emigration and Social Affairs in the same Embassy . In 2009 , he played the role as First Counsellor for Emigration and Social Affairs at the Italian Embassy in Paris ( France ).
In 2013 , the Italian President awarded him the prestigious acknowledgment of Official Knight of the Order of Merit of the Republic . In 2015 , he served as Deputy Commissioner General of the Italian Government for the 2015 Milan Expo . In 2016 , after being appointed Minister Plenipotentiary , he was assigned to the Consulate General of Italy in Zurich ( Switzerland ). Married with three children , he has been representing Italy in the Principality since his designation on the 13th July 2020 followed by the Investiture Ceremony in the presence of the Sovereign Prince on the 16th September 2020 .
HelloMonaco : Mr . Ambassador , how did you feel on the occasion of your official appointment ?
Giulio Alaimo : Meeting H . S . H . Prince Albert II of Monaco for the first time was a meaningful and unforgettable experience for me . The Sovereign Prince belongs to a family that has reigned for many centuries in Monaco and this aroused a lot of emotion in me . Moreover , the long-lasting Monegasque heritage and tradition best represents the strong ties that bind Italy and the Principality . The Grimaldi Family , in fact , finds its roots in Genoa .
: Has your impression of the Principality changed compared to before ?
GA : I have always considered Monaco extremely bright and vital . I do believe that the geographical dimension of the Principality is inversely proportional to its importance . Two square kilometres of territory versus huge international visibility that characterizes everything that happens here . Since I came here , I have had confirmation of my original impressions , despite the restrictions imposed by the health emergency .
: How did you get on with social distancing ?
GA : The beginning of my mission in Monaco coincided with a very difficult period , following this terrible pandemic that has affected the whole world , drastically influencing our personal and professional life . The Covid-19 crisis limited my mission and most of the cultural and promotional initiatives open to the public that we were used to programming .
: What are your plans to enhance the excellence largely represented in Monaco by top-ranked Italian entrepreneurship ?
GA : Italy is very well represented in the Principality . From a demographic point of view , Italy is the third community in terms of attendance with about 8,300 of Monaco ’ s residents having Italian descent . But also the entrepreneurial presence is relevant . According to our data , there are about 1,600 companies directly or indirectly related to Italians , not to mention about 4,500 commuters who are visiting Monaco daily , coming from the Liguria Region , the so called ‘ frontalieri ’. They represent an important axis in the implementation of several productive fields in Monaco like tourism as well as the service and catering sector . My mission is to strengthen the professional Italian spirit in the Principality by including further fields of expertise in which the government is investing a lot . Notably in the field of ecological and energy transition we are trying to create new opportunities of bilateral cooperation .
: On the 10th May 2021 , an important bilateral agreement between Andrea Orlando ,
Italian Minister for Labour and Social Policy , and Pierre Dartout , Monaco ’ s Minister of State was held by the will of Monaco ’ s Government . What is that about and what will change for the Italian community ?
GA : This agreement concludes a bilateral negotiation process which has lasted for a while and it was finalized with my arrival . So far , remote work has been proposed to Italian employees by way of exemptions (‘ derogation ’) from previous agreements . The new deal amends the 1982 Social Security Agreement allowing people to do their job from home on the basis of a legal regulation . The document is not yet in force since it needs ratification by the Italian Parliament whose available approval times cannot be pinned down right now . Once adopted , any Italian citizen will be able to work for a Monegasque company in front of the computer from the comfort of their homes .
: You have been living in Monaco for about a year , what do you appreciate most ? Why ?
GA : The place is charming with an extremely privileged climate by the blue sea . On the cultural front , I can say that Italians feel at home in Monaco , whether you are a resident , a commuter or an institutional member . In the Principality , in fact , we are not considered as strangers but part of the local community . A deep bond of friendship towards Italy is clear and this makes me feel very pleased .
Hello Monaco Summer — Autumn 2021 / 55 www . hellomonaco . com