MILAN, October 27, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

The Milan-born businesswoman, awarded with the special Niaf prize by the National Italian American Foundation for the charitable initiatives of Fondazione Bracco, as President of Expo 2015 called on the over 20 million Italian Americans to visit their home country during the six months of the Universal Expo to rediscover their roots and the beauty of Italy.

     (Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20131027/648583 )

"Last week, President Obama announced to Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta that the United States have committed to take part in the Expo, with a big hall sponsored by a consortium of private investors. So, with the United States, the number of countries that have already decided to take part in the Italian Expo are now 138. A real record-breaking figure," stated Diana Bracco, President of Expo 2015 and Commissioner for the Italian Pavilion, as she received the Niaf award for the charitable initiatives of her Foundation in the USA.

The Niaf 38^th Anniversary Awards Gala hosted Italian and American authorities, including the President of the Italian Senate Pietro Grasso and the President of Confindustria Giorgio Squinzi.

In her speech, Bracco called on the Italian American community to go to the EXPO 2015: "I urge you to come to Italy in 2015: take your children and grandchildren along to the Expo, so they can see our country on such an unrepeatable occasion. The Italian Pavilion will provide the magic of a journey through the Italy of yesterday, today and tomorrow, a combination of tradition and innovation and a showcase of the world-famous Italian style. For them it will be a way to rediscover their roots and Italy's cultural heritage."

For Italy, Expo 2015 is already turning out to be exceptionally good at attracting foreign capitals. It has been estimated that foreign investments will total 1,3 billion euros, and the private global partners' investments have exceeded 250 million.  

"We expect about 20 million people to visit us," Bracco concluded, "13/14 million from Italy, 3/4 million from Europe and 3 million from non-European countries, with at least one million from China. In other words, the Universal Expo 2015 is a great opportunity to give Italy a new lease of life."

Before speaking of the Expo 2015, the President had also thanked Niaf for the prestigious award given her. "We have an extremely strong and old bond with the United States," stated Diana Bracco, who since 2011 has also been a member - the only non-American one - of NGA's Trustees' Council. "In the year that celebrates Italian culture in the United States, then, we could not miss this opportunity, so we decided to support two concerts by the Orchestra of Accademia della Scala, due to take place in Washington and Chicago in December, and to create a 100,000 US$ scholarship in partnership with NIAF for a young US researcher with an Italian ancestor or an Italian one living in the USA."

Contact:

Fabio Zanchimob: +39-345-8345139email: f.zanchi@paditexpo2015.com

Fabrizio Galassimob: +39-366-6722512Email: fabrizio.galassi@adnkronos.com

SOURCE Expo 2015 press office