For the very first time, the Ambassador of the European Union to the United States, Honorable Caroline Vicini made a visit to St Louis for the region's largest annual international conference held at the Ritz-Carlton in Clayton. This year's theme was Growing Global - The Political Economy of Trade. Over 750 people were in attendance including the leading Italian businesses in St Louis and many dignitaries from across the world.

As the President of the Italian Community of St Louis and the St Louis - Bologna Sister Cities Organization, I had the chance to sit down and speak with Honorable Vicini about our ever growing Italian community, the many Italian citizens coming to St Louis for work, visa and passport issues encountered by many in our community, and our endeavor in re-igniting the Italian Chamber of Commerce in St Louis led by Mr Giorgio Bucci. I was delighted to hear of her support and her desire to meet with us again in forming coalition to understand the challenges and opportunities of Italians (and EU citizens in general) in the St Louis region.

As the conference focussed on issues surrounding global trade, the Italian Community of St Louis (Comunita' degli Italiani - St Louis), is focussed on growing Italian owned businesses and holding seminars for Italian startup companies in the St Louis metropolitan area.