ITO head Yalcintas decorated with Italian medal, as pact signed to ease business visas

The Italian Consulate in Istanbul and the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce (ITO) yesterday signed a pact to help ease visa procedures for Turkish businessmen, in a ceremony attended by ITO head Murat Yalcintas, Italian Ambassador to Turkey Carlo Marsili, and Italian Consul General to Istanbul Massimo Rustico. Under the agreement, Turkish businessmen will be able to get a visa for up to five years after applying to the consulate with a letter from the ITO. After the signing ceremony, Yalcintas was officially awarded Italy's state medal of merit for his contributions to improving Turkish-Italian relations.