Yesterday, Tuesday, December 16, in the Press Room of the Chamber of Deputies in Rome, the sixth edition of the Excellence Pugliesi Award, the initiative born to give voice and recognition to those who, with commitment, competence and passion, contributes to making Puglia a recognized excellence far beyond the national borders.
Designed and founded by Roberto Pansini, the Prize has become a symbolic event over the years to tell a Puglia that is no longer considered marginal in the international context, but is increasingly a live network of relationships, stories and successes. A project that focuses on entrepreneurship, culture, tourism, social, food and wine, creativity and innovation, enhancing the fundamental role of Apulian communities in the world.
To do the honors of the house, opening and closing the ceremony, it was Mr Christian Di Sanzo, who emphasized to our microphones the strategic value of the link between territory and Apulian diaspora: «We are at the sixth edition of an event that wants to reward the Apulians who have made important the image of Puglia in the world. It is a fundamental connection between Apulians and their homeland, strengthened by the work of associations abroad. A network that has helped to make Puglia more and more known internationally. In recent years the region has had a very strong growth and today it represents a model for many other Italian regions”.
The heart of the Prize remains the vision of his creator, Roberto Pansini, who has come from a trip to the United States, where Apulian presence is particularly significant. “I have just returned from the United States where there is a great presence of Apulia. In North America we created a project, Nice to meet you Puglia, which was enthusiastically welcomed by the Apulian community present in the USA: the pride for its roots of that community has made Puglia truly known in America and are many Americans that I want to come to visit our region, because Puglia primes in hospitality, in food, and in the many beauties it has, so I invite everyone to come to Puglia, we wait for you”.
During the ceremony, Fr. Federico Conte, President of the CIM – Italian Confederation in the World, reiterated the cultural and economic value of Italian communities abroad. To our microphones Count said: “Excellence Pugliesi is an important initiative to promote regional excellence. The Confederation was born to connect the Italians who live in Italy with the community of those, much more numerous, who live abroad. A global community that continues to hand down Italianity through culture, music, literature and food and wine. A heritage that must be promoted constantly and which also represents a fundamental fly of exchanges and economic relations”.
Among the most significant moments of the event, the award of the Award to Luca Scandale, Commissioner of Pugliapromozione, for the work carried out in the international enhancement of the brand Puglia and in the support of the Apulians in the world. “Receiving this recognition fills me with pride – said Scandale to the New York microphones –. Apuliapromotion has long supported the activities of the Apulian communities abroad and will continue to do so in 2026, from Australia to the United States to Brazil. We will be present on symbolic occasions such as the centenary of the Hoboken Festival, in New Jersey, as already happened in the past years».
In addition to Luca Scandale, the sixth edition of the Excellence Pugliesi Award has received the award for tourism, eleven other personalities who, in their sector, have contributed to bring Puglia beyond the borders.
Delfina Licata, author of the Italian Report in the World, brought the voice of Taranto and Puglia in the world for over twenty years; Piero Ricci, journalist and member of the National Order of Journalists, known face of the TG3 Rai Puglia; Carlo Bosna, Lieutenant Colonel of the CRI Military Corps, for his institutional and human contribution; Nevio D’Arpa, founder of BTM Italia, promoter of Apulian tourism at national and international level; Manuela Lenoci, in a remote connection, who with his blog A Pugliese Around the World told Puglia with passion and authenticity; Salvatore Patera, university professor and prominent figure in academic education in Rome;Pasquale Minuto, founder of the DioLoVuole Band, who brought Apulian music to the USA inspired by Don Tonino Bello;Gegè Mangano, chef of the restaurant Li Jalantumene, ambassador of Apulian cuisine in the world; Vincenzo Becci, marble entrepreneur, founder of the “Diamacch s.a.s. since 1977”, whose story is told in the book “La Valigia di Cartone” by Pasquale Mastracchio; Agostino Branca, master ceramist from Salento, author of the project “La Santa Tavola” and creator of the sculptures of the Apulian Pumus delivered to the rewarded;
Among the prizes awarded was also the one to the CEO and founder of Il Newyorkese, Davide Ippolito, for the commitment to promote excellence and Apulian initiatives in America (especially with the Special Paper realized at the Hoboken Italian Festival) and for the precious work that our head carries out daily creating a bridge between Italy and the United States.
He retired our editorial director Mattia Iovane.
L’articolo Premio Excellence Pugliesi, the Puglia that conquers the world awarded to the Chamber of Deputies proviene da IlNewyorkese.
