ITALIAN FESTIVAL 2023 RETURNS WITH EVENTS SHOWCASING ITALIAN EXCELLENCE IN SINGAPORE

Organised by the Embassy of Italy in Singapore,in collaboration with the Italian Trade Agency (ICE),the Italian Chamber of Commerce Singapore (ICCS) and various Italian associations.

The Festival will begin in May,with the arrival of a new state-of-the-art Italian Navy ship: the "Francesco Morosini" in Singapore,moored within the "Warship Display" at Changi Naval Base as part of IMDEX-Asia (International Maritime Defence Exhibition)

SINGAPORE,April 20,2023 --The 2023 Italian Festival in Singapore is organised by the Embassy of Italy,the Italian Chamber of Commerce of Singapore and the involvement of many Italian associations which are active in the city-state,together with renowned Italian brands,companies,importers,distributors and main players in the Italian catering and Food and Beverage sector.

Taking place from May to July 2023,the annual festival will feature a series of events aimed at promoting Italy and its excellences in a wide range of sectors,in partnership with Singapore organisations.

Ambassador Mario Vattani states: "The first edition of the Festival,which reached an audience of over 200,000 people with more than 50 events,decisively contributed to raise Singapore awareness about Italian excellence. Both in traditional fields,such as fashion,food,and wine,as well as in the most technologically advanced sectors".

A new state-of-the-art Italian Navy ship in Singapore

The Italian Festival this year will start with Italy's participation in IMDEX-Asia (International Maritime Defence Exhibition),showcasing a new state-of-the-art Italian Navy ship - the "Francesco Morosini" Multipurpose Offshore Patrol Vessel. The unit was delivered on 22 October 2022 to the Italian Navy at Fincantieri's shipyard in Muggiano,and represents cutting-edge Italian technology in the naval and electronic sector with her impressive characteristics – 6,000 tons of displacement,143 metres in length and 17.5 metres in width. One of the main features of the "Francesco Morosini" is the new concept bridge "Naval Cockpit",an integrated system that allows the conduct of the ship and the majority of the maritime operations by only two operators,the pilot and the co-pilot,who incorporates the figures of the duty officer on the bridge and the second-in-command.

As a testament to Singapore's prominence as a strategic hub,the nation will be its first Asian port call in the ship's five months global campaign. Moored within the "Warship Display" at Changi Naval Base,the ship will also be the stage for promoting Italy's excellence in other fields,including culture and scientific research. From 2 – 5 May,visits from local schools and lectures in partnership with Singapore Universities and a jazz concert,will give participants a first-hand experience of Italian cutting-edge technologies and innovative systems.

Puglia,one of Italy's most beautiful regions,will be featured at Gardens by the Bay

June events will be in celebration of Italy's National Day - "Festa della Repubblica". From 2 June – 16 July,Italy,as the country partner of the "Rose Romance" floral display at Gardens by the Bay,livens up one of Singapore's most iconic places with Apulian-inspired installations and cultural contents which have been brought exclusively from Italy to Singapore for the Festival with the support of the Regione Puglia and Puglia Promozione,in partnership with the Embassy of Italy in Singapore and several Italian sponsors.

Italian theatre in Singapore International Festival of Arts

From 20 - 21 May,Italian artist Andrea Salutri will give life to everyday objects,putting up a remarkable performance of Object Theatre. He inspires us to consider how we engage with objects,allowing these objects to take initiative,perform their own artistry and create their own magic. Truly an immersive experience that will blur the borders between contemporary circus,dance,and physical theatre.

Italian Cinema in Singapore

The best of Italian Cinema will take centerstage during the EU Film Festival (16 – 31 May) and Italian Film Festival (9 – 18 June). The Projector,located at Golden Mile Tower,will screen 'Siccita'-Dry' by Paolo Virzi' on 19 May,and the docu-film 'Kordon' by Alice Tomassini on 28 May.

'Salvatore: Shoemaker of Dreams' which tells the story of Ferragamo,an iconic Italian fashion brand,opens the Italian Festival in June. It will be followed by eight Italian highly acclaimed movies,including two timeless classics: 'The Good,the Bad and the Ugly' a Western directed by Sergio Leone,and a restored version of 'Nuovo Cinema Paradiso' by Giuseppe Tornatore.

Italy's collaboration with Singapore's Botanical Gardens

Scientific collaborations form an integral part of Italy's bilateral relations with Singapore. The partnership will be commemorated with two events organised by the Italian Embassy in collaboration with NParks. A seminar on 'Biodiversity and Migration of Botanical Species' will be held at the Singapore Botanic Gardens' Function Hall on 25 May,while a talk on the innovations of the two gardens will be held at Sala Italia of the Embassy of Italy on 26 May.

For online promotions of Italian products and a complete list of events - from cultural to commercial,scientific-technological to the investment sector,workshops,wine,and food tasting,please visit www.italianfestival.sg. This website will be constantly updated with the latest event news.

The planning of this Italian Festival in Singapore this year would not have been possible without the contribution of Italian institutions,companies and the broad involvement of the Italian community,Singaporean friends,and the academic world of both countries. The Embassy of Italy in Singapore aims to replicate the success results,powered by the same team spirit that supported the Festival in 2022.