APCOM

Milano will host the 2015 World Exposition. The Paris-based International Exhibitions Bureau chose the Italian city over the Turkish of Izmir in a secret ballot of its 140 members. The vote was 86-65.

"The Expo is a gift for the commons strenght and cooperation among the institutions, and confirms the internationally acknowledged excellence of Italian system", says President of Italian Republic Giorgio Napolitano.

Milano, Italy's economic capital, promoted its candidature for Expo 2015 on the theme "Feeding the planet, energy for life", winning a high-profile endorsement from former Us vice president and Nobel Prize laureate Al Gore.

"Now I'm very proud to be Italian", says Milano's mayor Letizia Moratti. "We'll be united to support this project. It proves that Milano can play a very important role for our country growth". The Milanese theme "is not only our - says Moratti - but for all the Planet".

The Expo is an international event that may create 70,000 jobs and generate 3.7 billion euros of revenue and economic benefits for Italy's business capital. Milano will follow on the footsteps of Shanghai, the chosen venue for the 2010 universal exposition.