In a Celebration at the BA, Senior Officials Launch Egypt-Italy Science Year 2009
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Alexandria—
H.E. Dr. Hani Helal, Egyptian Minister of Higher Education; Dr. Giuseppe Pizza, Deputy of Italian Minister of Education; H.E. Mr. Claudio Pacifico, Italian Ambassador to Egypt; and Dr. Yehia Halim Zaki, Head of the BA Academic and Cultural Sector, inaugurated on Saturday, 10 January 2009, the Egypt-Italy Science Year 2009 (EISY 2009) in the BA Conference Center. Eminent scientists and researchers from Egypt and Italy attended the event.
At the beginning of his speech, Dr. Helal asked the attendees to observe a minute of silence mourning Palestinian victims and called for action to spread peace throughout the whole world. He then emphasized the strong relations between Egypt and Italy in all fields, especially in research and culture. Dr. Helal pointed out that the EISY 2009 will witness several scientific activities and events relevant to the development plan in Egypt. He also added that several conferences, seminars and workshops will take place this year to promote cooperation between scientists and researchers from Egypt and Italy.
Ambassador Pacifico stated that Italy is Egypt’s first partner in Europe and that the Egyptian-Italian relations in politics, economy and culture are very unique. He also pointed out that endeavors to establish an Egyptian-Italian University are currently underway. The University will focus mainly on scientific and technological fields.
Dr. Pizza mentioned that Italy, President of the G8 (Group of Eight) for 2009, has invited Egypt, together with China, India and Brazil, to attend the meeting of the Group about science and technology, an initiative that was praised by all member states.
Blow-Up, Images from the Nano-world Exhibition was also opened during the Inaugural Ceremony of EISY2009. The Exhibition aims at revealing the hidden and mysterious world of nanotechnology. It is open for public, free of charge, from 8 to 27 January 2009, at the East Exhibition Hall, BA Conference Center.