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Italians in UAE gear up to mark national day

He told Khaleej Times in an interview that he was putting a lot of effort into this celebration.

“This is going to be my first National Day as an ambassador and also the first one in the UAE, he said. Invitations have been sent to all 1600 Italian residents in both Abu Dhabi and Dubai, as well as local authorities and friends of the embassy.

The event, which is going to take place on June 3 at the Emirates Palace here, will consist of a concert and a reception. Magna Grecia, a highly appreciated symphonic orchestra from the south of Italy, is going to perform a programme tailor-made by the ambassador himself.

“There will be music by the famous Italian composers like Puccini, Rossini, Verdi, and also popular songs such as O Sole Mio, so that nobody will get bored, Dionisi said.

The musicians will also perform a concert in Dubai’s Mall of the Emirates, on May 31.

“I want this celebration to be special for two reasons: a personal one, but also to underline what we are trying to do here, which is to start a new era, a new page in our bilateral relations with the UAE,” the ambassador said.

Since Dionisi started his mission in Abu Dhabi in July 2006, the anniversary of the National Day will mark nearly a year since he arrived here.

“We already have had very good relations with the UAE, but we wanted to take them to a higher level,” explained Dionisi.

During the past eight months, four Italian minister, three undersecretaries and a good number of other officials came on an official visit here and, according to Dionisi, “These were more than the official visits.”

In economic cooperation too, the two countries have gone a step further. “Since I arrived, more and more companies have opened up in the Emirates, from building materials and furniture, to fashion, legal consultants and even real estate,” Dionisi said.

One of the major achievements was the agreement signed recently between Mubadala and the Italian furniture group Poltrona Frau to set up a furniture factory in Abu Dhabi.

The plan for Ferrari Park has just been finalised and it is going to be built on Sir Bani Yas Island in the Western Region of Abu Dhabi. The Park, dedicated to the Ferrari, is going to be next to a Formula 1 track and it will include showrooms, restaurants, hotels and an amusement park.

“It’s going to be really nice,” he said, adding that the work will start in a few months’ time.

To further encourage business between the two countries the UAE – Italian trade technical committee, which was established in the early 90s, is going to be reinvigorated.

“A meeting, which will be held in Abu Dhabi, will be attended by the economy ministers of UAE and Italy.

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