The Ambassador of Italy to the State of Qatar, H. E. Pasquale Salzano, attended this morning the opening of the Italian Food Festival 2018 at Lulu Hypermarkets in Doha. “Savour the best of Italy” – organized by Lulu and the Italian Trade Commission, with the support of the Embassy of Italy – aims to promote the Italian quality food products in Qatar.
The event has been also the occasion to announce the new agreement between Lulu and Coldiretti – the leading Italian organization of farmers – aiming at the setting up of Italian food dedicated corners in all Lulu centers.
The speech of the Ambassador Salzano:
Good morning and welcome!
First, let me congratulate with LuLu and the Italian Trade Commission for making this initiative of the Italian Festival every year nicer and bigger. The Embassy of Italy is proud to support this annual promotion which allows people to experience the great variety of the Italian food and the ingredients of the Mediterranean diet.
Today we live in a context of great challenges and food is truly one of the most pressing and global ones: quality nutrition, sustainable production, stable supply and reduction of overconsumption are just few examples of issues related to food and directly impacting on all our lives and wellbeing. There is a global call for new agricultural solutions and consumption models.
In this context, Qatar is also looking for its solutions and showing the world a strong vision and commitment in developing its agro-food production capacity, implementing ambitious plans for self-sufficiency, integrated food logistics and diversification of food supplies. Italy is pleased to be a partner for Qatar also in this respect.
With this approach of partnership and exchange, we are even more honored to introduce in Doha this Italian Festival and to announce the upcoming week of Italian cuisine in November, in which LuLu will also be a partner.
Partnering with Lulu Group International means not only cooperating with one the fastest growing multinational leader in the sector of Hypermarkets. It means cooperating with a business which puts access to affordable quality food and quality nutrition at the core of its development model.
Affordable top quality Italian food will be available in LuLu outlets thanks to the agreement that I am proud to announce between LuLu Group and Coldiretti, the leading Italian organization of farmers, representing half million Italian producers. The top management of Coldiretti visited Doha last July and agreed with LuLu to set up – permanently – Italian food dedicated corners in all LuLu centers in Qatar and in the region. This will help meeting the local fast growing demand for quality food, showcasing the Italian food culture and contributing to further strengthen cultural and economic relations between our two countries.
Qatari people and the international community will find here – at very convenient prices – a more varied selection of Italian quality products, to share with their families and friends unique moments of joy and happiness.
This is what food is all about: it is about sharing and caring for the people we are close to. The attention to well-being stands at the very heart of Italian culinary traditions: taste and health go necessarily together and are both equally important.
Let me conclude thanking once again LuLu for the effort and commitment in selecting delicious and healthy products that can help people improve the quality of their life and thank you all for joining us today.
Thank you
