MOSCOW — Pirelli & C. S.p.A. CEO Marco Tronchetti Provera led a group of Italian business leaders in a video conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin in late January.
Tronchetti Provera led the call in his role as co-chairman of the Russian-Italian Committee of Entrepreneurs.
Pirelli operates two factories in Russia, in Kirov and Voronezh in a joint-venture arrangement.
Discussions on the call centered on "developing and exploring new opportunities and building a new dialogue," according to a Jan. 26 statement from Russia's presidential executive office.
With a particular focus on energy, the talks explored trade, economic and investment cooperation between Russia and Italy and prospects for further expanding bilateral business ties. Bilateral trade grew nearly 54% in the January-November period to $27.5 billion, Mr. Putin said.
The meeting went ahead despite reported opposition from the Italian government due to concerns about current East-West tensions over Ukraine.