The Vespucci's tall ship's role as a
"messenger of peace, friendship and harmony between peoples" was
the main theme of the opening day on Tuesday of Villaggio
Italia, the travelling expo on the best of Made in Italy design
and innovation.
"When it operates as a system, Italy triumphs and it has no
rivals," said Defence Undersecretary Matteo Perego di Cremnago
as he opened a Forum organized by ANSA in Doha for the 30th
stage of the world tour of the Italian Navy's training ship.
The Vespucci-Villaggio Italia project, passionately wanted by
Defence Minister Guido Crosetto, is a big challenge that is
generating "great sources of satisfaction", the undersecretary
stressed.
It's an initiative that shows the importance of having "a
strategic vision", he said, "a great idea whose effects will be
seen in the coming years".
The day began with the official inauguration of Villaggio Italia
with the traditional ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Its pavilions will remain open until December 22, giving
visitors the opportunity to take part in the numerous free
events, talks and concerts that will enrich the programme of the
Doha stage of the tour.
"If I had to define Italy with a word, I'd say Italy is the
Amerigo Vespucci," said Perego in his speech at the
inauguration.
Italy's Ambassador to Qatar Paolo Toschi said that: "the
Vespucci is the most powerful image of Italy".
Difesa Servizi CEO Luca Andreoli added that: "this is not just
our Villaggio Italia, it's your Villaggio Italia, a place of
encounter, of dialogue between peoples and cultures".
Relations between Italy and Qatar were at the centre of the ANSA
Forum, during which the defence undersecretary highlighted the
many "partnerships and friendships" that link the two countries
and offer excellent prospects for the development of bilateral
relations.
These have already been consolidated by the supply of ships made
by Fincantieri and Leonardo to the Qatari fleet and by other
important agreements in the defence sector and other fields.
Toschi agreed on that assessment and stressed a common element
that brings closer Italy and Qatar, albeit each with its own
specific nature, in the world of communication and media.
"Qatar is the country that has the Arab world's top network and
it is well aware of the value of news," he said, "and it built
part of its international role on this".
ANSA Chief Executive Stefano De Alessandri took part in the
forum along with three representatives of the design world -
Alia Rachid, the founder of FROMM brand, Marco Bruno, a lecturer
with the Virginia Commonwealth University, and Shaikha
Al-Sulaiti of the Doha Design District.
They talked about their experiences in this country and
relations between
Qatar and Italy.
The encounter closed with story of Andrea Stella, the creator of
the
'Spirito di Stella', a catamaran designed to be totally
accessible to the disabled which is following the Amerigo
Vespucci on its world tour.
It landed in Doha under Commander Tullio Picciolini.
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