Roundup: 100 days to go for Expo Milano 2015

The 100-day countdown begun on Wednesday for the opening of Expo Milano 2015, which will run in the Italian northern city from May 1 to Oct. 31 with the aim of providing a multi-sensory, educational journey in the world of food.

More than 7.5 million tickets have been sold so far for the world exposition, which is dedicated to the fundamental need to feed the planet with a sustainable approach to nutrition and will host more than 140 participant countries, regions and international organizations.

"I am optimistic about the fact that 24 million tickets will be purchased," Expo Sole Commissioner of the Italian Government Giuseppe Sala said on the sidelines of a press conference on Wednesday. More than 20 million people from all over the world are expected to visit the six-month exposition.

"By May 1 we will be ready," Sala said. "We went through difficult months," he noted referring to the severe delays and corruption infiltrations which threatened Expo Milano 2015 in the past. "However, looking at the site works I can say now that we are ready," Sala highlighted.

Organizers said works were proceeding at a fast pace, with 53 countries busy finishing their self-built pavilions, a record in the history of world expositions.

The others will be setting up their spaces inside the nine "clusters" of Expo Milano 2015, that is "villages" gathering the main States that produce specific foods - coffee, cacao, rice, spices, cereals and tubers, fruit and legumes - or that are interested in developing specific aspects of the event's themes Bio-Mediterranean, Food and Nutrition in the Dry Zones, Islands Sea and Food.

Expo Milano 2015, organizers explained, aims at providing a mix of culture and amusement and will be open every day from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. with a program mainly devoted to in-depth analysis during the day and to entertainment in the evening.

There will be conferences and debates on the global and social challenges connected to the right of all the populations worldwide to healthy, safe and sufficient food, converging in the writing of a strategic document on the issue, the Milan Charter.

On the other hand, the "Expo by night" will host shows offered by the Cirque du Soleil, events organized by different countries, gastronomic experiences at hundreds of ethnic restaurants, coffee bars and refreshment areas, as well as initiatives for children and families.

Special projects have been launched in Milan to welcome the expected over two million visitors from the Asia-Pacific area, such as the "Chinese Friendly Airport" initiative created by Milan Malpensa international airport to provide tailor-made services for Chinese passengers.

Not only Milan Malpensa has equipped with signage in Chinese, Mandarin-speaking shopping helpers and latest news in Chinese from Xinhua News Agency broadcast on the airport's monitors, but also inaugurated a website in Chinese earlier this week.

Security was especially tightened at the one million-square-meter exposition site to ward off possible acts of terrorism after the attacks in Paris in which 17 people were killed earlier this month.

Media reports said 2,500 closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras as well as hundreds of metal detectors and x-ray devices will be placed at the site, with particular attention on restoring and cleaning operations which will be carried out by some 900 trucks and 7,000 workers every night.

Italy has invested 1.3 billion euros in Expo Milano 2015 and additional 1 billion euros have come from participants. Some 800 million euros are expected from tickets and merchandising while a 5-billion-euro added value has been estimated in the touristic sector. Enditem (1 euro = 1.16 U.S. dollars)