Pellegrini Leaves for Italy, Will Open New Honorary Consulate in Bari

Bratislava, 4 June (TASR) - President Peter Pellegrini left for a working visit to Italy on Thursday, TASR has learnt from the President Office's communications department. The president is scheduled to hold talks with representatives of the city of Bari and the region of Puglia, open a new Slovak honorary consulate and support the development of relations between Slovak and Italian partners. The president's delegation also includes representatives of Slovak universities, the Slovak Academy of Sciences, the town of Liptovsky Mikulas (Zilina region) and Slovak companies. "A significant point on the agenda will be the signing of memoranda of cooperation between Slovak and Italian partners at Bari City Hall. The documents will concern developing cooperation in the areas of local government, education, economy and transport," said the office. Bari and Liptovsky Mikulas have also expressed their intention to develop other types of cooperation, particularly in the organisation of joint events, exchanges of experience in receiving visitors, cooperation between schools, and the implementation of joint European projects. Memoranda between eight Slovak universities and three universities based in Bari will create a framework for developing academic and scientific cooperation, including exchange programmes, joint research projects, and the future awarding of dual degrees. "The Slovak president will also be awarded the Silver Seal of Aldo Mora University in Bari as a sign of recognition of his contribution and confirmation of developing academic cooperation at the European level," added the President's Office. An agreement between the Slovak SARIO agency and Confindustria Puglia creates space for deepening bilateral economic cooperation, supporting business contacts and investments. Memoranda between Bari, Bratislava and Kosice airports, in turn, are aimed at mutual strategic cooperation with the aim of contributing to strengthening transport connectivity, tourism and economic cooperation. Pellegrini will also participate in the opening ceremony of a Slovak honorary consulate in Bari. Salvatore Chionno has been serving as Slovakia's honorary consul for the region of Puglia since 2024. "The new consulate will serve as a diplomatic, economic and cultural bridge between Slovakia and one of the most dynamically developing regions of southern Italy. At the same time, it will provide assistance to Slovak citizens and create opportunities for developing new partnerships in the fields of innovation, business, education and tourism," said the President's Office. ko/df