Giovanni Paolo Risso, the President of AIIM – Associazione imprenditori italiani del Principato, Monaco’s Association of Italian Entrepreneurs – welcomed members to a Gala Dinner at Monaco Yacht Club on Wednesday to mark the rebirth of activities following coronavirus lockdown.

Among the Italian-born business people who received awards to mark the occasion was Manfredi Lefebvre d’Ovidio, the chairman of Silversea Cruises.

A special guest, which was held in the presence of Italy’s Ambassador to Monaco, His Excellency Giulio Alaimo, was the Mayor of Genoa, Marco Bucci.

Among the highlights of the evening was the handing over of a cheque for 4000 euros to Ezio Greggio and his Monaco-based charity Association Ezio Greggio that funds incubators for premature babies in more than 80 hospitals in Italy and around the world, most recently in Lebanon.

This year’s Top Young Italian Entrepreneur prize was awarded to Manila Di Giovanni, a 21 years young technopreneur seeking to create the first-ever Virtual Economy linking the real and virtual world through her start up DWorld VR.

The event was accompanied by a live band, and as the very successful evening gathered pace Giovanni Paolo Risso took to the stage to serenade the guests.

PHOTOS: Top, Niccolo Caissotti di Chiusano, S.E.M. Jacques Boisson, Dario Cassano, Giovanni Paolo Risso, Ezio Greggio, Diego Munafò, His Excellency Giulio Alaimo Ambassador of Italy, Federica Nardoni Spinetta, Alberto Domenico Vitale. BELOW: Maurizio Di Maggio voice of RMC, announcer, Manila Di Giovanni CEO & Founder of DWorld, awarded, Federica Nardoni Spinetta secretary AIIM, Alberto Domenico Vitale Treasurer AIIM