The ongoing International Horticultural Expo 2023 Doha Qatar and the Italian Pavilion reflect the close relations between the country and Italy, which is a partner in Qatar’s strategy to innovate and achieve sustainability, Italian ambassador Paolo Toschi has said.
Speaking to Gulf Times on the sidelines of the recently held ‘Italian Day’, which was organised by the Italian Trade Agency (ITA), in co-operation with FederUnacoma – the Italian Agricultural Machinery Manufacturers Federation, Toschi said Italy’s presence at the expo signifies a commitment to a sustainable future.
“The expo and the Italian Pavilion are a testimony of how our countries look at these challenges as a priority. However, they are also seen as an opportunity for investing more, innovating, and going beyond the current landscape of what is available on the market. We are bringing in scientists, companies, and government together to come up with solutions that are needed in the future,” Toschi explained.
The ambassador stated that the name of the Italian Pavilion is ‘Garden of the Future’, which is synonymous with how Italy views Expo 2023 Doha “as a laboratory of the future.”
Toschi said topics, such as agriculture, innovation, and sustainability are no longer limited to farmers and other stakeholders specialising in the industry, but they also concern the general society.
“Today, there's more awareness of what we eat, the way we farm, the way we ship our products, and where we buy it from. This all affects our lives and livelihood.
“So, in all of this, I think Italy brings to the table a holistic sense. We want to bring these visions together, including culture, science, innovation, and farming in a sustainable way, combining traditional techniques and the latest technologies,” Toschi emphasised.
The ambassador noted that Italy has a complete vision of providing different solutions, which are also congruent with the pillars of Qatar National Vision 2030. “And that’s where we find eye-to-eye conversations with Qatar because they also do not want to isolate these elements,” Toschi pointed out.
In a speech during the event, Toschi lauded HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim al-Thani for the recent announcement of the Third National Development Strategy (NDS3) 2024-2030. The NDS3 is the final stage on the path to achieving Qatar National Vision 2030.
“Qatar has decided to continuously invest in its future with a very clear vision. A strategic production and growth vision has been presented by the Prime Minister; Italy believes that this is the right way to go – to focus a strategy of growth and development on sustainability.
“We also feel that we can contribute to it. We can be part of it. We want to support and encourage that development and today, we do it by focusing on the very important field of agriculture and agricultural technology,” he stated.
Italian ambassador Paolo Toschi. PICTURE: Thajudheen
