{"id":41225,"date":"2015-06-29T14:21:35","date_gmt":"2015-06-29T13:21:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.voyages-d-affaires.com\/milan-expo-universelle-2015-bis-non-repetita-20150629.html"},"modified":"2016-02-10T10:31:29","modified_gmt":"2016-02-10T09:31:29","slug":"milan-expo-universelle-2015-bis-non-repetita","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.voyages-d-affaires.com\/en\/milan-expo-universelle-2015-bis-non-repetita","title":{"rendered":"Milan Universal Expo 2015: bis non repetita"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ever since the very first World's Fair, in London in 1851, the primary aim of events of this kind has been to educate and innovate. In 2015, Milan is no exception to the rule, choosing a theme that is both eminently Italian and totally worrying: mangiare. Because with the world's population on the rise, at a time when questions of sustainability and ecology are at the centre of concerns, in these strange times when some populations are suffering from hunger while others are dying of obesity-related diseases, it was crucial, truly crucial, to highlight the theme of food. With a deliberately innovative approach. \"Expo 2015 will launch a new model. In this sense, the aim is no longer simply to showcase the most advanced technologies, but to be a global and interactive event, in which the 145 participating countries, international organisations, associations and the international scientific and economic communities will all be involved.<\/em>This is what the Expo Milano 2015 events division is all about\", explains Piero Galli, Managing Director of the Expo Milano 2015 events division. He continues: \"For the first time in almost two centuries of history, a world's fair will not only showcase human progress, but will also be an opportunity to promote discussion and cooperation between nations, organisations and businesses, in order to develop common strategies.<\/em>\"<\/p>\n

\"Strolling<\/p>\n

Economic showcase<\/h2>\n

Over and above this important subject, a world exhibition is also an effective way of boosting the economy of a city, or even an entire country. \"Milan will become the real gateway to Italy, a showcase for all it has to offer in terms of business and tourism.<\/em>\"concludes Piero Galli. The creation of the Explora website (www.exploratourism.it) will perpetuate the movement and help to promote the Lombardy metropolis after the event, in connection with very specific sectors: mountains, music, farms, walking, painting, etc.<\/p>\n

According to a study conducted by the Milan Chamber of Commerce in collaboration with a team of analysts from the SDA Bocconi School of Management, the expected economic spin-offs are enormous. Ten billion euros in added value and five billion euros in profits from tourism are expected, in addition to a large number of new jobs, with 60,000 people working directly or indirectly for the event. To this must be added a billion euros in investment by the participants - 600 million for infrastructure and 400 million for operations - as well as 350 million euros in sponsorship and partnerships.<\/p>\n

Above all, however, 1.3 billion in public investment will enhance the appeal of a city that has been somewhat neglected over the last ten years, with Expo 2015 serving as the necessary accelerator for this restructuring. Most of the projects were launched under Mayor Letizia Moratti, in office from 2009 to 2011, and since 2014 the transformations have been impressive, from a simple new pavement to a gigantic business district built from almost nothing. Another example: in 2014, an increase of 20 % in new businesses in the hotel and catering sector was recorded in Lombardy.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

France, for its part, has chosen to create a pavilion with very low energy consumption that can be dismantled and reassembled at will. Its 3,600 m2 wooden structure evokes the tradition of covered markets. It will house a caf\u00e9, a shop and... a bakery. When you consider that more than 20 million visitors are expected to visit the Expo site, and that the French pavilion is expected to welcome an average of 1,000 people per hour, you have to wonder how many croissants there will be to brown between now and October. And brown them well, to do justice to the very best in French breakfasts.<\/p>\n

Pavilion zero<\/h2>\n

Other new features to improve city life include two motorways, one of which is already in service, and two metro lines. Line 5, to the north, is already partially operational, while line 4 will be a little later. \"The Expo area itself, located close to the Fiera Milano, on a one million m2 site that has long been in dereliction, is easily accessible, as it is connected to two motorways. It is also within easy reach of Linate and Malpensa airports, and is served by a high-speed railway line and the underground.<\/em>We're going to have a lot of work to do,\" explains one of the spokespersons for the Milan Chamber of Commerce. But what will happen after Expo? Will all the infrastructures and pavilions be preserved? Undoubtedly, the Italian pavilion and the famous Pavilion Zero, a sort of dreamlike space inspired by the Roman forums, will be among them. There is also talk of the pavilions being converted into sports or youth facilities, an auditorium and multi-purpose areas. It's all still up for discussion. What counts for the moment is the beauty of the site, entirely bordered by a canal, with four cardinal points where the emblematic elements of the Expo will be located: the Mediterranean hill, the open-air theatre, the nautical arena and the Expo Centre.<\/p>\n