On May 8, 2018 the Ambassador of Italy to the US Armando Varricchio, in collaboration with Ambassador Stuart Holliday, President and CEO of the Meridian International Center, has hosted an event for the Meridian Global Leadership Council founding members. The Meridian International Center is a premier nonprofit, global leadership organization based in Washington, DC, which promotes dialogue among leaders of public and private sectors on key global issues and current international affairs.

The event took place at Villa Firenze, the residence of the Italian Ambassador, and was focused on the creative economy as an engine for growth, for strengthening commercial ties and stimulating investments. As the “Industry 4.0” reform plan clearly exemplifies, the creative economy is not only key for growth and investments, but represent also a distinctive feature of the Italian economy.