-In first institutional visit. Vattani: ‘Support of regions confirmed’-

ROME, Nov. 29, 2024 /ANSA=Kyodo JBN/ --

Friuli Venezia Giulia Governor Massimiliano Fedriga, the president of the Conference of Regions and Autonomous Provinces, was the protagonist of the first institutional visit to the construction site of the Italian Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka.

Less than 150 days from the start of the Universal Exhibition, which will host some 30 million visitors from April 13 until October 13, 2025, Fedriga was able to observe, according to a statement, the progress of work, to celebrate a symbolic milestone through the realization of a project which, in line with Expo’s themes, represents inventiveness, sustainability and Italian design in the world.

Fedriga was accompanied during his visit by Ambassador Mario Vattani, Commissioner General for Italy at Expo 2025 Osaka, and by the Architect of the Italian Pavilion Mario Cucinella.

“The participation of regions and autonomous provinces in the international Exhibition of Osaka is part of a virtuous path, which already started during Dubai’s Expo, aimed at promoting the many excellencies of territories and to recognize their centrality, and that of local communities, as primary vectors of the country’s cultural, social and economic development”, commented Fedriga.

He stressed that it is “an opportunity that we have chosen to welcome with enthusiasm at the general regional level, as well as individually: the Autonomous Region of Friuli Venezia Giulia will in fact be present in Japan already during the first thematic week of the Italian Pavilion, between April 27 and May 3, 2025, to present itself to the wider public and to a select group of stakeholders.

“Particularly meaningful will finally be the day of April 25, during which a preview of the third edition of Selecting Italy will be held, an event on the attraction of foreign investments and regional value chains – scheduled to take place in Trieste at the beginning of November 2025 – jointly organized by the Conference of Regions and Autonomous Provinces and by the Autonomous Region Friuli Venezia Giulia, under the patronage of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and of Business and Made in Italy”.

“The presence of president Fedriga in the official visit to the construction site of the Italian Pavilion, confirms the support of the system of Italian regions that accompanies Italy’s project at Expo 2025 Osaka”, declared Vattani.

“Expo is an extraordinary window and a unique opportunity to use international visibility, promote new economic agreements, boost Italian exports and, thanks to events to attract investments which we will bring here in Osaka, become a driving force for foreign investments in Italy”, he noted.

Vattani stressed that the “massive adhesion of regions to Expo 2025 Osaka becomes a strategic force to promote Italy in Japan and Asia.

“We are working on a full calendar of events enhancing the peculiarities of our territories and presenting the united regional system: the strength of cultural heritage, the value of territories, the innovation of production chains and live daily events will be the protagonists of the spaces of the Italian Pavilion and will have a key role for the experience of visitors”.

“The location of the Italian Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka represents not only a construction site, but a tangible sign of inventiveness, of creativity and of sustainability that characterize our country”, noted Mario Cucinella, Architect&Founder di MCA – Mario Cucinella Architects.

“The visit of President Massimiliano Fedriga is a significant moment: an occasion to share the path of this project with those representing our regions and their innovative spirit.

“This goal is the result of a collective commitment, which eyes with determination the opening of the Pavilion in April 2025, when Italy will present itself to the world as an example of vision, sustainability and beauty”.

With the completion of the supporting structure in wood which took place in mid-October, the construction site of the Italian Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka has now entered a new crucial phase.

The month of November, with the final closure of the external encasing, has marked the passage from structural work to internal and fit-out architectural activities, with the objective of defining the substantial elements of the project and prepare the spaces for the scenic setup.

The last months of 2024 and the first of 2025 will be dedicated to the installation of fundamental systems that are essential to finalize all the work and complete the Pavilion until the last testing phase ahead of the opening on April 13, 2025.

Expo 2025 will be held in Osaka from April 13 until October 13, 2025, and has as theme “Designing Future Society for Our Lives”.

The Italian Pavilion, planned by Studio MCA – Mario Cucinella Architects, interprets this with “Art regenerates life”.

At the centre of the visitor’s experience at the Italian Pavilion the presence of Atlante Farnese has been announced – a two-metre-high imposing marble sculpture that weighs nearly 20 quintals and belongs to the collection of the National Archeological Museum of Naples (MANN).

The sculpture will travel for the first time in history to Japan and Asia.

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