Amerigo Vespucci sailing to Japan to reach Tokyo in first

(ANSA) - ROME, AUG 23 - The Italian Navy's Amerigo Vespucci training sailboat, a worldwide ambassador of Italy, will reach Tokyo for the first time over the next weeks, as part of its 2023-2025 World Tour.
    The historic training ship of the Italian Navy will station at the International Cruise Terminal on August 25-30.
    On Monday, August 26, at 10, an inaugural ceremony will be held at the Villaggio Italia (Italy Village), an international exhibition of Made in Italy showcasing "Italian national excellence", in order for the world tour of the Amerigo Vespucci to be, along with a unitary expression of the values of the entire nation, also a showcase of the best Italian production chains, promoting Italy's economy and culture.
    The initiative "World Tour -Italy Village", strongly promoted by Defence Minister Guido Crosetto, unites the tradition of training activities for Navy cadets on the ship with the promotion of the excellence of Made in Italy in the main ports reached through Villaggio Italia.
    After departing from Genoa in July 2023, during the course of 13 months of navigation, the vessel reached 16 out of the 31 countries it will visit, touching 20 of the 30 ports involved in the overall tour, thus visiting three of five continents.
    Participants in the government's ambitious project include, in addition to the defence ministry, also the prime minister's office - with the minister for civil protection and maritime policies and the minister of sport and youth - the ministry of foreign affairs and international cooperation, the ministry of the economy and finance, the ministry of infrastructure and transport, the business and Made in Italy ministry, the agriculture, food sovereignty and forestry ministry, the ministry of the environment and energy security, the ministry of culture and the ministry of tourism.
    The inaugural ceremony at Villaggio Italia will be attended by Defence Minister Crosetto, Japanese authorities, Italy's Ambassador to Japan Gianluigi Benedetti, Italian authorities, and Luca Andreoli, CEO of Difesa Servizi.
    Villaggio Italia and the Amerigo Vespucci vessel will be open to the public from August 16 to August 26.
    All information on the program of Villaggio Italia in Tokyo is available on www.tourvespucci.it (ANSA).