30/06/09 – The results of a survey conducted by EXPO Milano 2015 on the attitudes of the Milan residents towards the Expo were announced on Tuesday by the CEO of Expo 2015 S.p.A, Lucio Stanca, in the presence of the Extraordinary Commissioner of the Italian government for Expo 2015 and Mayor of Milan, Letizia Moratti.

The survey – called “Exponiti”— was conducted on a sample of 16,500 Milan residents online at www.exponiti.it and through interviews in the city. The results showed enthusiasm by citizens for the Expo, with 77% of the respondents answering that they believed the Expo will have a positive impact on land, participation of the youth and immigrants, and that the Expo will be an event that could counter the crisis.

Mayor Moratti announced: “These are answers that confirm the will of Milanese, especially young people and women, to design the Milan of the future. Not so much a Milan of celebrated monuments or buildings, but a Milan of life, services, opportunities, of development. A city that wants to reshape its own identity, that is esteemed, that is beautiful, and that produces models of quality to be diffused around the world.”

She continued: “But the responses also confirmed the concept of the Expo 2015, which will not merely propose a review for reflection but a laboratory of projects… This exchange of ideas on the future has already begun with global cooperation projects, and the Expo has spread to five continents.”

Mayor Moratti also spoke on the great expectations of citizens for the Expo: “The Expo is seen as an anti-crisis instrument, and the results confirmed the points of interest as the themes we have already been carrying out for a long time, such as transport, ‘green’, culture.”

Mr. Stanca explained, “We are managing money in a period of crisis, aggravated by the situation in Abbruzo, and we are aware of what we must do for the citizens. We think that the involvement of young people of all parts of the world as participants and volunteers and of women is essential.”

Mr. Stanca said that “Exponiti,” the first communication initiative undertaken by EXPO Milano, was “an initiative that has given very positive results.” He continued: “This is the first time for a dialogue: a first step towards the involvement of citizens and to establish a channel of communication.”

(Source: EXPO Milano 2015 official website – www. milanoexpo-2015.com)