ROME, Dec. 18, 2023 /ANSA=KYODO JBN

-Minister Tajani: 'it's an important result achieved thanks to a close partnership with Japan'-

The ground-breaking ceremony for the construction of the Italian Pavilion will take place on December 19th on the artificial island of Yumeshima in Osaka Bay, the site of Expo 2025 Osaka World Expo.

Italy is the first country, among the approximately 160 participating countries, to start building its pavilion, and the only one that will begin the construction within 2023.

"With this ceremony, Italy is the first country to start construction on Expo Osaka 2025,” said Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani.  “This is a very important result, achieved thanks to the extraordinary partnership between Italy and Japan,” he continued.

“The Italian Pavilion will be an exceptional instrument of diplomacy for growth,” added Tajani.

"We are proud of this first result," said Ambassador Mario Vattani, Commissioner General for Italy at Expo 2025.  "In a difficult international context in which the cost of materials has increased by about 20 per cent of the original estimates costs, Italy is able to stick to its schedule thanks to the close collaboration with Japanese firms” he added.

Indeed, the ground-breaking represents an important first milestone for Italy at Expo 2025 Osaka at a time of major problems in supply chains. In spite of these challenges, without increasing its budget, Italy is following its timetable at full speed, thanks to close cooperation with the important Japanese companies Nishio and Nomura.

In addition to Commissioner General Vattani, the Governor of Osaka Yoshimura and the Secretary General of Expo Ishige will also attend the “Kuwaire” ceremony on December 19th, during which a traditional hoe will be sunk into the ground on the site of the pavilion designed by architect Mario Cucinella and which will also host the Holy See's spaces for the first time.

Source: General Commissioner’s Office of Italy for Expo 2025 Osaka