Opinion | Strong ties bind Tennessee, Italy during MLK50

Tennessee and its people have left a mark in politics, in business and, especially, in the arts.

While visiting Memphis and Nashville this week, I could not help but wonder what the music scene around the world would be like today had it not been for icons such as the Grand Ole Opry or Sun Studios.

There's another way that Tennessee’s legacy has spread its influence across the world, and truly defined our culture.

Tennessee was at the forefront of the civil rights movement. From the desegregation of Clinton High School in 1956 to the sit-ins in Nashville, the brave men and women of the Volunteer State overcame adversity and started a wave of successful protests across the southeastern United States.

A legacy that we remember daily as freedom, democracy and human rights form the bedrock of the relationship between the United States, Europe and Italy. They are the tenets of our societies and indeed underpin our action in the international arena.

Protecting and advancing this legacy is paramount, especially as we draw closer to April 4 and prepare to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in Memphis.

We have achieved a lot since that time, but to paraphrase King's very last speech, we must not stop here.

Based on these fundamental pillars, relations between my country and the U.S. span multiple sectors. We work together in ensuring security and stability around the world, in confronting the scourge of terrorism, in promoting sustainable development, growth and the benefits of free and fair trade, and we cooperate closely on cultural issues.

Common cultural roots connect our people and societies, as is testified by the many enthusiastic visitors of "Rome: City and Empire" at the Frist Center for the Visual Arts in Nashville.

This exhibition also underlines how Americans and Italians are not only defined by their past, but also by their aspiration to chart a better future for the next generations through art, beauty, research and innovation.

Finally, this unique bond is further strengthened by the solid relationship Italian companies and people have with Tennessee, whose vibrant economy is firmly entrenched in the global economy and has a broad international footprint.

Warm, friendly people, an easily accessible and interconnected market with some of the lowest taxes in the country, and a pro-business regulatory environment, make Tennessee very attractive to international business.

Over the past years more Italian companies, including some well-known and respected brands, have invested significantly in the state and based their businesses there. Beretta’s new plant in Gallatin, which created over 300 jobs, is one example.

As the Italian ambassador to the United States, I am particularly proud that Italy is one of the key international players in Tennessee’s economic development.

I am confident that in the future relations will continue to bring mutual benefits to the state of Tennessee and, thus, to the U.S. and Italy as a whole.

Armando Varricchio, Italy's ambassador to the United States, visited Memphis Tuesday and Wednesday.