Evergreen’s Chang honored in Italy, Russia

Evergreen’s Chang honored in Italy, Russia

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Evergreen Group Chairman Chang Yung-Fa concluded his recent tour of Europe Monday by becoming the first Asian entrepreneur to receive Italy’s highest ranking honor, the Knight of the Grand Cross (Cavaliere di Gran Croce) from Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi in Rome.
   Chang, who was granted honorary citizenship of Italy in 2002, was awarded the honor in recognition of his achievements, contributions and innovations in international transportation and trade.

Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi (right) presents the honor of the Knight of the Grand Cross to Evergreen Group Chairman Chang Yung-Fa.

   The Taiwanese group, whose U.S. headquarters is in New Jersey, purchased Lloyd Triestino (now Italia Marittima) from the Italian government in 1998 in what Chang has said was a personal favor to his friend Prodi, describing the country’s flagship line as a “basket case” that needed nursing back to health. Evergreen’s other major investment in Italy was the Taranto Container Terminal (TCT), now the carrier’s major transshipment hub in the Mediterranean.
   In addition to the Italian honor, Chang was recently awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Transport and the title Honorary Academician by the Russian Academy of Transport in St Petersburg. He also attended the Evergreen Symphony Orchestra's two European debut concerts in Norway and London.