APCOM

"Miracles never seem to cease in Italy... Letizia Moratti seems to have pulled off the impossibile - forging a grand coalition of political and business interests to back her campaign to secure the 2015 World Trade Fair for Milan". An incipit to what one may think is a Municipality dispatch, but in fact it is the beginning of an article published today on British financial and economic newspaper "Financial Times".

"Mrs Moratti is known as the Iron Lady of Italy" writes Paul Betts in his European View column. "Since taking over the running of Milan, she has been determined to re-establish the city's international resonance and role. Her idea is to turn the 2015 world trade expo into both a showcase for the city and, indeed, the country as a whole, as well as a stimulus for a massive investment programme to improve local infrastructures and make Milan a model of eco-friendly urban living".

In his article Bett underlies Nobel prize winner Al Gore's endorsement thanks to the campaign focus on the theme of "feeding the planet, energy for life" and then goes on to explain what, according to him, is the most significant novelty of her initiative. "The most remarkable aspect of the venture is the way it has brought together all sides of Italian politics and business in an Angela Merkel-style grand coalition. For once, Mrs Moratti acknowledges, everybody from the head of state to the leader of the opposition agrees. They are all backing the ¿14bn in direct and indirect investments pledged to help Milan win the contest".

"After all, the stakes are high - not only for Milan but for the country as a whole" explains Betts giving an idea of the importance of the event which is likely to attract around 30m visitors and boost tourism.

"At the same time - he concludes - it is expected to help the country export a more positive image of itself and escape the usual stereotypes of sterile political and business wheeler-dealing - exemplified by the continuing saga of the future of Alitalia and Milan's international airport Malpensa".