The President of the Confederation, Micheline Calmy-Rey, submitted the official letter confirming Switzerland’s participation at Expo Milano 2015 to the Italian foreign minister, Franco Frattini, during his official working visit to Bern in January this year. Switzerland is the first country to accept Italy’s invitation to participate at Expo Milano 2015.

Today, Switzerland’s acceptance of the invitation was celebrated at an official event in the Centro Svizzero in Milan. About 200 high representatives of the Italian authorities and Expo Milano 2015 attended the event. Roberto Balzaretti, Secretary-General of the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, presented the Mayor of Milan and Special Commissioner of Expo Milano 2015, Letizia Moratti, with a copy of the official letter of confirmation from the President of the Confederation. A joint declaration of intent concerning Expo Milano 2015 was then signed.

In his speech, the FDFA Secretary-General emphasised the importance of the theme of the Expo: „Nutrire il Pianeta, Energia per la Vita“ saying: "Access to food and water is a global challenge in which Switzerland is actively engaged. Through research and the development of scientific bases, as well as through the activities of Swiss companies that are leading global players in the food sector, Switzerland is making an important contribution to this theme."

As a symbol of an innovative country that is close to nature, Switzerland presented Mayor Moratti with a gift that will – literally – bear fruit: a one-year-old apple tree of the latest Swiss eco-variety, Galiwa. The apple is sweet, red and resistant to rust infection.

Expo Milano 2015 offers Italy and Switzerland a further opportunity to develop their intensive cooperation in infrastructure projects and tourism. An overall budget of about CHF 25 million is planned for Switzerland’s participation in Expo Milano 2015. Presence Switzerland (PRS) will be responsible for the management of the Swiss pavilion. PRS, which is of part of the FDFA, has been in charge of Switzerland’s official participation in world expos since 2001. Interested cantons and private-sector companies will be able to benefit from this major Swiss appearance on the world stage. 

For further information please contact:
Clelia Kanai, Presence Switzerland (PRS), Team Marketing and Communication, Major International Events, Phone +41 76 319 03 29.

As part of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), Presence Switzerland is responsible for fostering Switzerland’s image abroad, and in this capacity it implements the strategy of the Swiss Confederation on Switzerland’s communication abroad.  The aim of Switzerland’s communication abroad is to promote the perception and visibility of Switzerland abroad, to present the diversity of Swiss political life and society as a unified whole for the purpose of enhancing identification with Switzerland and strengthening on a sustainable basis its position in the global competition for investments, visitors and exports.  The basis of all Presence Switzerland’s activities is “Brand Switzerland”, which determines the principal messages and Switzerland’s visual presence abroad. 
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Switzerland’s participation at Expo Milano 2015 symbolised with an apple tree