Nineteenth edition of the award presented by the Italy China Council Foundation (ICCF) and Milano Finanza - Gruppo Class Editori to the companies and individuals who have best seized the opportunities arising from exchanges between Italy and China.
Also in 2024, as per tradition, the main protagonists were significant industrial realities and SMEs, both Italian and Chinese: among this year's awardees are Digital Bros, Dolce&Gabbana, Gruppo Desa, Guala Closures, Midea, SEA Aeroporti Milano, Serravalle Designer Outlet, and Venchi.
For the first time, the Leone d'Oro Filippo Nicosia was awarded to Eugenio Loccarini, CFO of Leonardo China.
The other Leone d'Oro went to Lucia Hui King, an Italian-Chinese citizen and expert in economic and cultural cooperation between Italy and China.
Italian and Chinese entrepreneurial excellence took center stage at the China Awards 2024.
The 19th edition of the event, organized by the Italy China Council Foundation (ICCF) and Milano Finanza - Gruppo Class Editori, concluded with thirty-one winners across nine award categories.
The awards were presented last night at the Museo della Scienza e della Tecnologia "Leonardo da Vinci" in Milan, in front of an audience of around 300 representatives from the Italian business and industrial world, along with institutional guests, experts, partners, and professionals.
The ceremony was followed by a charity dinner to fund scholarships, in collaboration with the Politecnico di Milano, aimed at students involved in activities that bridge Italy and China.
THE GUESTS
Hosting the event were Mario Boselli, President of the Italy China Council Foundation (ICCF), and Paolo Panerai, Publisher and CEO of Class Editori, who welcomed Liu Kan, Consul General of China in Milan, Luo Jin, Minister-Counselor at the Chinese Embassy in Italy, Fiona Li, Special Representative for Economic and Trade Affairs of Hong Kong to the EU, Lorenzo Riccardi, President of the Italian Chamber of Commerce in China, Federico Antonelli, Director of the Italian Cultural Institute in Beijing, and Filippo Barberis, Chief of Staff to the Mayor of Milan.
Mario Boselli, President of the Italy China Council Foundation (ICCF)
Liu Kan, Consul General of China in Milan
The event was supported by partners Bracco, Brembo, Chanteclair, Du Lac et Du Parc Grand Resort, the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Brussels, and the McArthurGlen Group.
THE AWARD WINNERS
The event highlighted Italian and Chinese companies, both multinational corporations and small and medium-sized enterprises, that have distinguished themselves in promoting commercial and cultural relations between Italy and China. The China Awards serve as an important platform for celebrating entrepreneurial excellence and fostering economic ties between the two countries. The winners of this edition are:
CAPITAL ELITE (D'Andrea & Partners Legal Counsel, Italian Exhibition Group)
CAPITAL ELITE - Special Prize Hong Kong SAR (Venchi)
CREATORI DI VALORE (Goglio, Gruppo Desa, Gruppo Matches, Retex China, SEA Milan Airports)
ECCELLENZA ITALIA (Dolce&Gabbana, Russo Cammei, SIFI)
GREEN ROAD (ACBC, BLUE Engineering, Midea Italia, OMR China Automotive Components, Vitelli Maglieria Italiana)
TOP INVESTORS (ASK Industries, CVG Gold, Guala Closures, Life365, Max Factory, Rollon, Seco, Tecniplast, UFI Green)
VIA DELLA SETA (Comau, Digital Bros, Serravalle Designer Outlet, Triumph Group International Società Benefit).
THE 'LEONI D'ORO'
For the first time this year, the Leone d'Oro Premio Filippo Nicosia was awarded in memory of the diplomat who tragically passed away in 2020 while serving as the Consul of Chongqing.
This choice was made to honor not only a professional who distinguished himself through extraordinary abilities, universally acknowledged, but also a person deeply loved for his affable character and remarkable willingness to help others.
On this occasion, Jenny Trisoglio, mother of Filippo Nicosia, attended the evening and presented the award to the winner Eugenio Loccarini, CFO of Leonardo's Chinese subsidiary, recognized for his commitment as a bridge between the two countries.
The other Leone d'Oro was awarded to Lucia Hui King, an Italian-Chinese citizen and expert in economic and cultural cooperation between Italy and China.
"The high number of awarded companies and their significant role in the Italian industrial and entrepreneurial system further confirms the role Italy is playing vis-à-vis China, as also reflected in 2024, which saw our country's institutions at the forefront of bilateral relations," declared Mario Boselli, President of the Italy China Council Foundation (ICCF). "The state visits to China by Minister Adolfo Urso, Premier Giorgia Meloni, and President Sergio Mattarella have further strengthened the strategic collaboration in the economic, political, and cultural realms within the framework of the Global Strategic Partnership, which this year celebrated its 20th anniversary."
"The China Awards, now in their 19th edition, represent much more than just a traditional event," said Paolo Panerai, Publisher and CEO of Class Editori. "Organized by Class Editori in collaboration with what was once the Italia Cina Foundation, now the Italy China Council Foundation, they are a unique event and a crucial reference point in Italy-China relations. Awarding companies from both countries for their reciprocal economic activities means promoting development and strengthening harmony between our peoples."
LIST OF THE WINNERS
CAPITAL ELITE
D'Andrea & Partners Legal Counsel
Italian Exhibition Group
Capital Elite - D'Andrea&Partners Legal Counsel - Avv.Carlo D'Andrea
Capital Elite - Italian Exhibition Group - Alessandra Astolfi
CAPITAL ELITE - Hong Kong SAR Special Prize
Venchi
Capitale Elite -HongKong Special Prize - Venchi - Giovanni Battista Mantelli
CREATORI DI VALORE
Goglio
Gruppo Desa
Gruppo Matches
Retex China
SEA Milan Airports
Creatori Di Valore - Goglio - Marco Vanoni
Creatori Di Valori - Gruppo Desa - Saverio Silva
Creatori Di Valore - Gruppo Matches - Andrea Cicini
Creatori Di Valori - Retex China - Fabiana Alcaino
Creatori Di Valori - Sea Aereoporti Milano - Maria Paola Forleo
ITALIAN EXCELLENCE
Dolce&Gabbana
Russo Cameos
SIFI
Eccellenza Italia | Italian Exellence - Dolce&Gabbana - Alfonso Dolce
Eccellenza Italia | Italian Exellence - Russo Cammel - Marco Russo
Eccellenza Italia | Italian Exellence - Sifi -Armando Consoli
GREEN ROAD
ACBC
BLUE Engineering
Midea Italy
OMR China Automotive Components
Vitelli Italian Knitwear
Green Road - Acbc SRL - Giò Giacobbe
Green Road-Blue Engeneering - Moh'dJurna Eid
Green Road - Midea Italia - Alberto Di Luzio
Green Road - OMR China Automotive Components - Jiu Shi Meng
Green Road - Vitelli Maglieria Italiana - Mauro Simionato
LEONI D'ORO (Golden Lions)
Lucia Hui King
LEONE D'ORO (Golden Lion) Special Award Filippo Nicosia
Eugenio Loccarini
Golden Lion - Lucia Hui King
Golden Lion - FilippoNicosia - EugenioLoccarini
TOP INVESTORS
ASK Industries
CVG Gold
Guala Closures
Life365
Max Factory
Rollon
Seco
Tecniplast
UFI Green
Top Investors - Ask Industries - Alberto Bianchi
Top Investors - Cvg Gold - Francesco Finamore
Top Investors - Guala Closures - Stefano Picchiotti
Top Investors - Life365 - Xiao Wei Zhou
Top Investors - Max Factory - Tommaso Li & Sonia Li
Top Investors - Rollon - Stefano Zecchinato
Top Investors - Seco -Clarence Nahan
Top Investors - Tecniplast - Leopoldo Zauner
Top Investors - Ufi Green - Stefano Gava
SILK ROAD
Comau
Digital Bros
Serravalle Designer Outlet
Triumph Group International Benefit Corporation
Silk Road - Comau - Luca Fameli
Silk Road - Digital Bros - Raffaele Galante
Silk Road - Serravalle Designer Outlet - Stefano Vaccaro
Silk Road - Triumph Group International Società Benefit - Paolo Donadio