Scale model of Italy 40mn Milan expo pavilion unveiled

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Scale model of Italy 40mn Milan expo pavilion unveiled

By Emily Backus (ANSA.IT) 15:43, November 12, 2013

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Rome, November 8 - A scale model of the Italian pavilion for Milan Expo 2015 on Thursday was unveiled in the Quirinale Palace, the official residence of the President of Italy.

The exhibit "Italy Pavillion. From design to Expo 2015", will be open to the public at the Quirinale until January 15, is the first stop for a show illustrating the plans for the 40 million euro project that will be Italy's own showcase for its Universal Exposition at home, which is themed "Feeding the Planet. Energy for life".

The 1:50 scale miniature was presented by Expo Chairman Diana Bracco and Michele Mole' of the Roman architectural firm Nemesi & Partners, which designed the pavilion, as well as Louis Godart, councilor for the Italian president on the conservation of artistic patrimony.

Premier Enrico Letta said last week that he wants Expo 2015 in Milan to be a showcase for recession-hit Italy like the 1960 Olympics was when the country was in the middle of its post-war economic boom.

"After the great (economic) crisis, Expo can be a great showcase for a revived Italy," Letta said.

"It can be the same as the 1960 Rome Olympics, which told the world about Italy during the boom".

The premier added that he was confident the Milan world fair would be even better than the successful Shanghai Expo of 2010, which registered more than 70 million visitors.

"I think that we'll do better than the Chinese," Letta said.

"It's a tough bet to win, but I see the figures. We have a greater number of countries who have bought whole pavilions than the number that took whole pavilions in China. That's an excellent signal for us".

Brazil this week signed up for Expo Milano 2015, offering its farm expertise and bringing the event's participants close to the 140 mark.

Expo Milan Commissioner Giuseppe Sala on Monday said the six month event will be "the first Universal Exposition on the 'green economy'" and underlined the importance of a partnership GreenItaly together with Unioncamere and Fondazione Symbola.

GreenItaly is a group promoting sustainable, environmentally friendly development.

"The promotion of sustainable environmental practices, as called for in the final declaration of Rio+20 is a cardinal element of the legacy that the 2015 Universal Exposition will give to the world," Sala said.

Italian Labour Minister Enrico Giovannini said an agreement with unions and employers associations on more flexible labour rules for the event could arrive this week, and that new labour rules pertaining to Milan Expo could be inserted in Italy's upcoming budget or a number of other pieces of legislation coming up on the calendar.

Powerful union boss Susanna Camusso of the leftwing CGIL responded that differences of opinions remain, and she "suggested" that the government not act unilaterally.

Managing director of the Italian State-broadcasting company RAI, Luigi Gubitosi, smoothed worries that RAI might cover the Expo from the capital city Rome rather than at the Expo location in Milan saying, "We are considering new RAI offices in Milan.

We are in contact with local authorities and the investment zone will certainly be the Expo area".

Turin Mayor Piero Fassino, who was visiting New York, said Turin was organizing for Expo visitors a host of cultural events to coincide with and compliment Expo in Milan.

Turin is an hour away from Milan by high-speed rail.

Fassino also expressed hope last week that the Expo will be "an occasion for offering the image of a country that has overcome its weaknesses and is once more a great nation of the world".