Communications

Tokyo, 19 March 2007
 
On March 19, the General Manager of Finmeccanica, Giorgio Zappa, took part in the opening of "Italian Spring 2007" in Tokyo. This major initiative, consisting of more than three hundred events in thirty Japanese cities until July, focuses not only on Italy's cultural heritage but also on the creativity, talent and hi-tech capabilities of Italian industry.
 
The ceremony was attended by Francesco Rutelli, deputy Prime Minister and Cultural Heritage Minister, accompanying Prince Hitachi, brother of Emperor Akihito, together with the Undersecretary for Foreign Affairs, Gianni Vernetti, and the Italian Ambassador to Tokyo, Mario Bova. The inauguration took place at Tokyo's National Museum with an exhibition entitled "Leonardo Da Vinci's Mind" whose centrepiece is Leonardo's "Annunciation", on loan from the Uffizi Gallery in Florence.

This masterpiece, with its "phenomenal marriage between art and science, combined with Leonardo's curiosity about the natural world and his ability to invent the future" was described by deputy Prime Minister Francesco Rutelli as "Italy's finest ambassador to the world".
Japanese media gave the inauguration ample coverage both on television and in the main newspapers such as the Asahi Shimbun which produced a three-page supplement reviewing all the main Italian events scheduled to take place over the next three months.
 
At the same time, one of Tokyo tallest skyscrapers was floodlit with the colours of the Italian flag to celebrate the opening of "Italian Spring 2007". As dusk fell, the 238-metre "Mori Tower" in the exclusive Roppongi Hills district, was suddenly flooded with the red, white and green of the Italian flag, projected vertically by 1,500 spotlights - an eye-catching and impressive display which will last until June 3, marking this promotional initiative in Japan.
 
During the inauguration ceremony, Finmeccanica's General Manager Giorgio Zappa said, "New and untried opportunities are opening up in various sectors, some of them relating to institutional changes in Japan such as the recent setting up of a Defence Ministry."


Finmeccanica will take part in "Italian Spring 2007" during the last week of June, with a series of workshops focusing on various sectors of the Group's activities, and by setting up a special video display. As part of the traditional mix of technology and culture that distinguishes Finmeccanica, the Group will also be organising a series of eight concerts by the orchestra of the "Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia", with an all-Italian programme (Rossini, Paganini, Respighi). One of the eight performances will take place during the gala evening organised by Finmeccanica at the Tokyo City Opera and Concert Hall.
 
Finally, during the "Italian Spring 2007" period, Finmeccanica will present the "Fink" Master's course in International Business Engineering, at the Italian Cultural Institute in Tokyo. An interactive link via Internet will enable Japanese universities to take part in a press conference, learning more about best practices at an international level which bring together academic culture and managerial skills within Finmeccanica's complex business activities.