Expo Milan: Italian envoy seeks Saudi participation

The Italian Embassy held a reception here to promote ‘Expo Milan 2015,’ a high-profile international exhibition that the Italian city of Milan will host from May 1 to Oct. 31 this year.
Speaking about the expo, Italian Ambassador Mario Boffo said Milan will become a global showcase during the six-month show.
More than 140 countries, he said, will feature the best of their technology and products in the presence of millions of visitors from across the world including the Gulf states.
The event was attended by Expo Milan organizers, a number of guests and newsmen. Boffo said that Italy has the honor to host the 2015 world exhibition in Milan on the theme of “Feeding the planet. Energy for Life.”
Calling on the Saudi businessmen to travel to Milan to attend the event, the envoy said the event is likely to attract more than 20 million visitors.
“We look forward to welcoming Saudi business delegations in Milano during the next six months as well as organizing with our Saudi counterparts some joint events to be held in Italy back-to-back with Expo Milan,” he said.
“Acting as a comprehensive platform for discussion and a showcase for industrial innovation, the expo represents a unique occasion to contribute to the global debate on sustainability, food and nutrition security,” said the envoy.
The attention of the international community toward Expo Milano 2015 has been largely spurred by the chosen theme: “Feeding the Planet. Energy for Life,” encompassing a major challenge.
“Nevertheless, considering your experience in the topics related to Expo Milan 2015, in particular the potential of innovation linked to research, safety and sustainability in the food industry, we very much count on the Saudi business community as a key partner for Italy in those scientific, cultural and commercial initiative that will unfold during and after Expo Milan,” said Ambassador Boffo.
Referring to the participation of a large number of countries and organizations in the expo, he said the response from the international community has been very satisfactory with over 130 countries and international organizations confirming for this extraordinary event. The exhibition area will cover almost one million square meters, he said.
Milan, a metropolis in Italy’s northern Lombardy region, is a global capital of fashion and design besides being an industrial hub. Home to the national stock exchange of Italy, it’s a financial center also known for its high-end dining and shopping.