(ANSA) - Milan, October 6 - It is "crucial" that the
government is part of the enterprise that will oversee the
redevelopment of the area currently occupied by Expo once the
universal exposition has finished, Agriculture Minister Maurizio
Martina said Tuesday.
"There is no doubt that we have full responsibility to work
towards a project for the area that is strong, ambitious,
national in scope, that lives up to these six fantastic months,"
Martina said.
Italy "really" has something to say to the world on the
subject of agri-food, the minister continued.
"If we are successful in linking the experience of Expo to
this perspective we can really give the country a great tool for
the coming years," Martina said.
Separately, Lombardy Governor Roberto Maroni said he "took
it for granted" that the government would enter Arexpo, the
company set up to manage the site once Expo has ended.
There is already a "clear" idea of how the site will be
used, he added.
"I expect the plans will be finalised by the end of October
because we need to be operative from November 1," Maroni said.
To date discussion has centered on turning the site into a
new university campus for innovation and research, with a
particular focus on the farm and food sector in keeping with the
theme of Expo 'Feeding the planet, energy for life'.