Expo Dubai, record numbers for the San Marino pavilion Italpress news agency
DUBAI (UNITED ARAB EMIRATES) (ITALPRESS) – It closed at midnight on March 31st, with a music show (Cristina Aguilera, Norah Jones and Dj Tiesto are just some of the international stars who performed under the dome of Al Wasl ), performances, special effects, lights and fireworks, the Dubai Universal Exposition 2020.
The spotlight was spent on the event that opened last October 1st after the postponement of a year caused by the pandemic and which in the six months of opening recorded record numbers, attracting the attention of the whole world and leaving visitors, in exhibitors and insiders, the feeling that it will be difficult to replicate an edition of such great success.
The San Marino Pavilion was closed by the Secretary of State Federico Pedini Amati who participates in the delegation of the Expo and who, before his return to San Marino and the last group of volunteers, wanted to thank all the people involved in the mission in the Emirate: Pavilion Director Letizia Cardelli, managers Elisabetta Bucci, Sara Conti and Ilaria Brizi, Massimo Zani for the Chamber of Commerce, the staff of the General Commissioner and all the volunteers who followed.
A special thought for the two General Commissioners who directed the San Marino participation in Expo Dubai 2020, Mauro Maiani, who passed away on October 31st just while he was in Dubai, and Filippo Francini who replaced him and continued his commitment up to the closure.
All the closing speeches during the spontaneous but very emotional ceremony that took place inside the Pavilion on the evening of March 31st were dedicated to the moving memory of Mauro Maiani.
In the more than 180 days of the event there was no lack of complex situations to manage, but San Marino’s participation in the Dubai Expo ended with an overall success. The blue-white presence in the United Arab Emirates, in a unique context that involved over 200 countries, has strengthened international relations by favoring prestigious technical and political meetings and the Republic of San Marino is taking place as a tourist destination.
The San Marino Pavilion recorded unanimous appreciation for its set-up, for the chosen theme and for the beauties shown and visitors growing day by day up to the record of 8693 attendees on Sunday 27 March. For the overall data it will be necessary to wait a few more days but it is now certain that the presences at the San Marino Pavilion will be between 350,000 and 400,000. Almost 25 million total visitors to Expo Dubai 2020. Excellent results from the shop.
Last February 13, the highest moment for San Marino with the National Day in the presence of the Captains Regent and four Secretaries of State. Other members of the State Congress went to Expo Dubai 2020 for specific events, meetings, summits and conferences.
The dismantling of the San Marino Pavilion has begun today, the Treasury of Domagnano, the true protagonist of the San Marino exhibition, will return to the State Museum but also part of the other installations will be recovered and relocated to the Republic.
The next edition of the Universal Exposition will be held in Osaka (Japan) from 13 April to 13 October 2025, the Republic of San Marino has already started talks to evaluate its participation.
On 1 April, Secretary of State Federico Pedini Amati awarded Omar Shehadeh, general manager responsible for the participation of all countries in Expo 2020 Dubai, with the title of Grand Knight of Sant’Agata. Omar Shehadeh proved to be a great friend and precious collaborator of the Republic of San Marino, he guaranteed his prestigious assistance throughout the period of San Marino’s participation in Expo 2020 and in particular on the sad occasion of the sudden death of Commissioner General Mauro Maiani.
A special thanks from the Secretariat of State for Tourism goes to all the sponsors of the San Marino mission.
“As always, when such a great, important, complex and exciting experience ends, there is a sense of sadness, but today, the feeling that the San Marino people and all those involved in the project must feel, is of utmost satisfaction for this. that was done, for how this participation was organized and for how, through Expo, the image of San Marino was conveyed in the world – says Federico Pedini Amati, Secretary of State for Tourism, Cooperation, the Post Office and Expo -. I believe that Mauro Maiani, whom we will never cease to remember and thank, has understood first and foremost the importance of the presence of our State at Expo and having transmitted these values and his great passion for the Exposition to us. Universal is perhaps his greatest legacy. In every moment of these six long months I have thought of him and he intends to dedicate the great success that we can confirm today. My heartfelt thanks go to Filippo Francini who replaced an irreplaceable man by managing to achieve unexpected and prestigious results, guiding the many people involved in the project with seriousness, honesty and dedication. Thanks to the four managers who led the Pavilion and thanks to the volunteers, phenomenal young people, smiling ambassadors of our Republic in Dubai. We will realize only in the next few months how important San Marino’s participation in Expo has been for tourism promotion, for international relations, for the image and credibility of our country. In recent months we have signed memorandums of understanding, agreements, we have fostered meetings between entrepreneurs and sold local products, we have mainly opened the doors to new opportunities and we have met with politicians from all over the world and we have told everyone how wonderful our country is. and how many opportunities it offers. It was a very tough challenge, there were dark and despondent moments, there were certainly difficulties, but the challenge was won and the success of the participation of the Republic of San Marino in Expo Dubai proved to be absolute in every respect. of sight “.
(ITALPRESS).