SPECIAL GUEST. Dr. Gianfranco Colognato, right, a Miami-based consul general of Italy on a visit to South Carolina, talks with USC Aiken Vice Chancellor Dr. Suzanne Ozment, left, and retired Chancellor Dr. Robert Alexander. (Staff photo by Rob Novit)

By ROB NOVIT Senior writer

The consul general of Italy for the Southeastern U.S. will meet with Gov. Mark Sanford this morning, but he visited the City of Aiken first.

Miami-based Dr. Gianfranco Colognato, one of four consul generals representing Italy's interests in the U.S., met with public officials and civic leaders Monday and was scheduled to take a carriage ride and tour Aiken's horse community early this morning.

Colognato was accompanied by Dr. Sergio Fedelini, who works primarily in Charleston as the vice-president and chief financial officer for MSC Cruises USA Inc.

About three years ago, Fedelini heard about Partners in Friendship, which maintains a sister-city relationship with Orvieto, Italy. In previous visits to Aiken, he became friends with George Custodi, PIF president. PIF has a student-exchange program that sends students to Italy every other year.

"The fact that (Colognato) is spending time in Aiken is significant," Custodi said. "This could open up other opportunities with Partners in Friendship. They like to develop relationships and follow them up. The fact that he will get to know people here could facilitate a lot of further activities."

Colognato said he will meet with Sanford and representatives of Italian industries based in the state.

"We are very big importers of South Carolina products," he said. "We will see what we could do to improve that. There are no prospects yet. I just came to understand what is going on and what kind of opportunities there are."

Aiken City Manager Roger LeDuc showed Colognato the Washington Center for the Performing Arts. They discussed cultural programs and other endeavors that could be brought to Aiken from Italy.

"There are links between Aiken and Orvieto and we could add other programs," Colognato said. "I hope that would happen. We want to strengthen the relationship between South Carolina and Italy."

He and Fedelini also met with retired USC Aiken Chancellor Dr. Robert Alexander. They stopped by the Etherredge Center, where Alexander showed the visitors paintings by Italian artist Livio Orazio Valentini, who has served as an artist-in-residence and informal ambassador at USCA.

Others scheduled to meet with Colognato and Fedelini Monday night included S.C. Sen. Tommy Moore, D-Clearwater, USCA Chancellor Dr. Tom Hallman, longtime bank executive John Troutman and horse trainer Cot Campbell.

Contact Rob Novit at rnovit@aikenstandard.com.