Italy is a "superpower in culture and beauty," thanks to its prowess in design, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation Angelino Alfano said in Doha on Thursday.
He was delivering the keynote address at the Italian Design Day ceremony, organised by the Italian embassy at the Msheireb Enrichment Centre.
On Thursday, an Italian Design Day was celebrated by about 100 Italian embassies across the world.
"Italy is a G7 country, but it is not the world's economic superpower. Italy is a Nato member but is not the military superpower. However, we are indeed a superpower, second to none, in culture and beauty, thanks to our design," he explained.
"Our country also considers culture as the fourth pillar behind economic, social and environmental pillars," observed the visiting dignitary.
"Our aim is to develop new ideas, initiatives and joint projects by promoting an international debate on such issues as the link between design and sustainability," said Alfano while informing that the central theme of the Italian Design Day this year is the link between the two issues.
Companies in Italy, insisted the foreign minister, alone represent more than one-third of the design sector's global revenues, which amounted to €100bn a year.
"Italian design exports have also gone over €20bn and they have been showing a growing trend all along."
The huge demand for the Italian design, said Alfano, has propelled the supply of Italian design products across the world.
"The demand for Italian design in the Gulf region is too strong, especially among the middle class segment,"said the minister while reminding that there was a 6% rise in the export of Italian design products to Qatar between 2016 and 2017.
Usually, there is a remarkably good interest among Qatari businesses whenever Milan Interior Design and Furniture Exhibition is held. This year the expo will run from April 17-22.
Italy, said the minister, is a country with few natural resources and it is significant that the country's economy has grown without oil, gold, diamonds or other major resources.
"We have invested in culture and promoted creativity as they are the primary sources of our country's prosperity," said Alfano.
While insisting that the vitality of Italian designs could contribute to the country's growth, the minister said though design incorporates traditions, often it breaks away from conventionality.
"This is being done to innovate and effect changes," he said while adding that it is difficult without taking risks.
"Though design does not fear new ideas it is fearful of old ideas that paralyses our thoughts," said Alfano.
Above all, design helps one to think of a better and more sustainable future. While being one the pillars of Italy's economic diplomacy, design also helps to be becoming creative and multi-faceted and eventually contributing to respecting ideas and differences.
"With this awareness, Italy's economic diplomacy has been promoting a multidisciplinary and highly integrated strategy for the promotion of the Made in Italy concept," added the minister while hoping that such an approach would also work in Qatar in future.
Earlier, welcoming the Italian minister, Msheireb Properties CEO Ali al-Kuwari recalled the growing relations between Qatar and Italy in such areas as design and culture and how much it has contributed to the development of such ambitious projects as Msheireb Downtown Doha project.
Italian Ambassador Pasquale Salzano remembered the initiatives of Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser to boost Qatar's heritage through the development of the ambitious Msheireb Downtown Doha project.
The envoy also lauded the project, which he said has many Italian concepts and designs.
On Thursday, an Italian Design Day was celebrated by about 100 Italian embassies across the world.
"Italy is a G7 country, but it is not the world's economic superpower. Italy is a Nato member but is not the military superpower. However, we are indeed a superpower, second to none, in culture and beauty, thanks to our design," he explained.
"Our country also considers culture as the fourth pillar behind economic, social and environmental pillars," observed the visiting dignitary.
"Our aim is to develop new ideas, initiatives and joint projects by promoting an international debate on such issues as the link between design and sustainability," said Alfano while informing that the central theme of the Italian Design Day this year is the link between the two issues.
Companies in Italy, insisted the foreign minister, alone represent more than one-third of the design sector's global revenues, which amounted to €100bn a year.
"Italian design exports have also gone over €20bn and they have been showing a growing trend all along."
The huge demand for the Italian design, said Alfano, has propelled the supply of Italian design products across the world.
"The demand for Italian design in the Gulf region is too strong, especially among the middle class segment,"said the minister while reminding that there was a 6% rise in the export of Italian design products to Qatar between 2016 and 2017.
Usually, there is a remarkably good interest among Qatari businesses whenever Milan Interior Design and Furniture Exhibition is held. This year the expo will run from April 17-22.
Italy, said the minister, is a country with few natural resources and it is significant that the country's economy has grown without oil, gold, diamonds or other major resources.
"We have invested in culture and promoted creativity as they are the primary sources of our country's prosperity," said Alfano.
While insisting that the vitality of Italian designs could contribute to the country's growth, the minister said though design incorporates traditions, often it breaks away from conventionality.
"This is being done to innovate and effect changes," he said while adding that it is difficult without taking risks.
"Though design does not fear new ideas it is fearful of old ideas that paralyses our thoughts," said Alfano.
Above all, design helps one to think of a better and more sustainable future. While being one the pillars of Italy's economic diplomacy, design also helps to be becoming creative and multi-faceted and eventually contributing to respecting ideas and differences.
"With this awareness, Italy's economic diplomacy has been promoting a multidisciplinary and highly integrated strategy for the promotion of the Made in Italy concept," added the minister while hoping that such an approach would also work in Qatar in future.
Earlier, welcoming the Italian minister, Msheireb Properties CEO Ali al-Kuwari recalled the growing relations between Qatar and Italy in such areas as design and culture and how much it has contributed to the development of such ambitious projects as Msheireb Downtown Doha project.
Italian Ambassador Pasquale Salzano remembered the initiatives of Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser to boost Qatar's heritage through the development of the ambitious Msheireb Downtown Doha project.
The envoy also lauded the project, which he said has many Italian concepts and designs.
