Italy woos Sri Lankan support for candidacy for Expo Roma 2030

By Zahida Rizvi

Expo Roma Taskforce 2030 Deputy Coordinator Gaetano Castellini - Pic by Upul Abaysekara

Italy is wooing Sri Lanka’s support for its candidacy to host Expo 2030 with the theme “People and Territories: Regeneration, Inclusion, and Innovation” and committing an investment of Euro 50 billion.

Via “Expo Roma 2030”, Italy is promising to strengthen trade ties and fostering co-operation.

Sri Lanka is the first country selected in Asia by Italy to bid for the Expo Roma Campaign 2030 as it plays a significant part in the development of a potent soft power in South Asia.

“Sri Lanka, a multilateral country is viewed to have the ability to develop and practice techniques to use art and material and immaterial culture in the field of international relations, ‘exporting’ them not only to reap economic benefits but also and above all to consolidate one’s geopolitical role,” Expo Roma Taskforce 2030 Deputy Coordinator Gaetano Castellini Curiel told the Daily FT.

The fundamental elements that represent the core of the event, such as evolution and regeneration, variety, sustainability, zero-emission digital and decentralisation propel Expo Roma 2030.

Castellini who was in Colombo as part of promoting Italy’s bid, said: “Sri Lanka being part of Roma Expo 2030 will have its own pavilion and will be included in the Roma Expo 2030 budget in terms of construction, travel, and nationality.”

Italy, leading the race to secure the bid to host Expo 2030 amongst its contemporaries, Russia, South Korea, Italy, Ukraine, and Saudi Arabia, is awaiting the results of the vote in November 2023.

Roma Expo 2030, is aligned with the sustainable development goals of the United Nations, to host 170 countries.

Rome, the city renowned for its heritage, architecture, culture and unique transport system across major European capitals, the Balkans, North Africa and the Middle East, is the chosen venue to host the Expo in Italy.

Rome’s candidacy reflects its goal to encourage all-inclusive collaborations and collaborative initiatives with each participating nation. The projects will be shown in national pavilions, providing visitors with an amazing presentation of cutting-edge approaches and perspectives anchored in various historical and cultural contexts. Expo 2030 Roma aims to address these problems by encouraging participation from all parties, articulating a common approach, and coming up with cooperative solutions.

Expo Roma 2030 will address issues such as the evolution and regeneration of territories in the face of threats from climate change and the catastrophic effects it brings; the diversity and inclusion of our communities; the sustainability of our urban agglomerations and the need to adopt a circular economy; local, national, and international decentralisation and mobility; and the role of digital connectivity as a flywheel for economic and social development.