The meeting was reported in a press release. “The meeting served to enable the Secretary of State, Federico Pedini Amati, to confirm – albeit amid the current global health emergency and with the concomitant economic challenges – the participation of the Republic of San Marino at Expo 2020, with a view to tapping all of the available potential in terms of visibility and the promotion of tourism and the national economic system by developing cooperative relationships and through networking. Her Excellency Reem Al Hashimy stressed her appreciation of the efforts made by San Marino to participate, despite the complex circumstances, confirming her full support in relation to the requirements envisaged by San Marino to allow it to take part. She also voiced her admiration for the volunteer program, which aims to send youngsters and students from San Marino to help manage the pavilion together with the staff members who will oversee the works.

The cordial, extremely constructive meeting gave rise to numerous potential scenarios for collaboration – not all associated with the Expo – which will be developed during the presence of San Marino in Dubai over the course of the six months of the Expo, including the setting up of a San Marino-UAE business forum, along with commercial and institutional missions by San Marino to the UAE.

Federico Pedini Amati (Secretary of State for Tourism, Cooperation, the Postal Service and the Expo) stated: “The visit to the San Marino pavilion came to an end with a high-profile meeting with Her Excellency Reem Al Hashimy, Minister for International Cooperation and Director General of Expo 2020. The Minister was instrumental in setting up this high-level bilateral meeting, during which we addressed important matters of cooperation and collaboration in relation to our participation in the Expo – matters which we intend to explore in more depth over the coming months. I am very satisfied with the meeting, which was marked both by seriousness and friendliness, and I would also like to express my gratitude for the painstaking efforts that went into the planning of our journey. I am, in addition, grateful for the valuable input of the Embassy of the UAE in Rome and of Expo 2020.”