On the morning of May 3, President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov went on a working visit to the Republic of Italy. Several hours later, the presidential airliner landed at the Malpensa Airport of Milan. The leader of nation proceeded to the “EXPO-2015”Exposition Centre to take part in holding a ceremony of National Day of Turkmenistan. It should be noted that our country has presented its products at the significant global forum for the third time. Among the world exhibition participants are 145 states and 3 international organizations. Turkmenistan considers its participation in the World Exhibition as a proposal on cooperation for universal progress and prosperity. Therefore, our national exposition’s motto is “Food abundance –peaceful development”. The Turkmen pavilion, which covered an area of 1175 square meters, had been built by well-known company – “GessConGmbH” (Federal Republic of Germany) in an original architectural style harmoniously combining the elements of national decor with high technologies. The pavilion of Turkmenistan occupies one of advantageous positions. Next to it are pavilions of the Republic of Belarus, the Russian Federation, the State of Qatar, Estonia and the Sultanate of Oman. On the left, three are three flag staffs with the State Flags of Turkmenistan and the Republic of Italy, as well as the “EXPO-2015” Flag. On the whole, the pavilion’s design reflects both traditionally national and modern symbols of Turkmenistan. On the ground in front of the entrance is a fountain with the image of Akhalteke horse – our people’s treasure and pride. Above the front entrance is the wooden frame of a traditional Turkmen yurt and a light-emitting image of the Turkmen carpet. On one of the pavilion’s outer sides, on a huge LED-panel is the image showing the unique nature of Turkmenistan. A waterfall is another ornament of this part of the pavilion. … The motorcade of President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov stopped before the central entrance to the “EXPO-2015”Exhibition Centre where the high Turkmen guest was welcomed by officials of the Republic of Italy and the International Exhibitions Bureau, and invited to proceed to the venue for the official ceremony of opening National Day of Turkmenistan – Auditorium, a special pavilion for solemn events. Members of the governmental delegation of Turkmenistan, the head of our country’s diplomatic mission, the heads of the EXPO-2015” Organizing Committee, including the commissioner general of the World Exhibition in Milan, representatives of government bodies, ministries, departments, public organizations of Italy, and other guests of honor, as well as many spectators gathered there. The head of state entered the building and began his get-acquainted round of the national exposition, represented by more than 40 ministries, sectoral departments and the Industrialists and Entrepreneurs Union. Thanks to wide application of innovative technologies and multimedia equipment in the Turkmen pavilion, special LED panels, one of which is in the shape of an original globe, visitors can get a visual picture and detailed information about Turkmenistan, multidimensional economic and cultural potential, prospects of development of our country, which follows the path of progress and development under the leadership of President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov. In the center of the pavilion located on three levels (each of them occupies an area of 575 square meters), visitors can familiarize themselves with Turkmenistan, its past and present. Exceptionally beautiful large Turkmen hand-made carpets are on display here. For many centuries, our people have been carefully preserving the technique of hand-made carpet weaving and its artistic style in a perfect form. As an object of national pride of the Turkmen people, and their undeniable contribution to the world’s art treasures, Turkmen carpets continue to evoke admiration in the world. President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov entered the pavilion. Here, the Turkmen leader and visitors of the exhibition were demonstrated a multimedia laser show prepared by our local entrepreneurs specializing in the organization of solemn events. Then the head of state and guests familiarized with the national exposition, which featured a wide range of products of the leading sectors of Turkmen economy, demonstrating steady and dynamic growth. The introduction to the exposition began with the exhibits of the Turkmen State Publishing Service. A variety of high-quality print products were displayed there. Then the head of Turkmen state and honorable guests acquainted with the stands of the Ministry of Trade and Foreign Economic Affairs of Turkmenistan, the State Food Industry Association and the “Turkmengallaonumleri” State Association, which highlighted the major theme of the world exposition. Thanks to the practical measures taken today in the country, on the basis of local raw materials a wide assortment of meat, dairy, fruit and vegetable, oil and butter products, wines, liquors, and soft drinks, bakery products, pasta and confectionary goods, baby food and food stuffs are produced. It should be also noted that the production of our country’s food industry is well known to foreign consumers as well. A wide selection of high-quality food products produced by Turkmen enterprises includes various types of canned fruit and vegetable products, natural juices, drinks, confectionary. President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov requested members of the Italian delegation to taste Turkmen wines and cognacs, which had been repeatedly awarded diplomas at international exhibitions. After tasting the red wine, guests expressed their admiration with its taste. As the Minister of Education of the Republic of Italy noted, it is as good as the best Italian wines. One of the stands presented a wide assortment of bakery products and pasta produced by enterprises of the “Turkmengallaonumleri” State Association. Having made a stopover near the stand, the head of state told the guests about Turkmen bread – churek, which is traditionally baked in the tamdyr (a traditional clay oven). Local private entrepreneurs and commodity producers, who play an important role in realizing enormous potential of the national economy’s private sector, demonstrated their potential at the EXPO-2015. The stand, which displayed carpet products, clothes, including modern national costumes, as well as souvenirs, evoked a special interest in visitors. Expressing their admiration with dresses and costumes, members of the Italian delegation showed much interest in the traditional style of national costumes and handmade embroideries. The exposition of the State Museum of the State Cultural Center, the Ministry of Culture of Turkmenistan acquainted visitors with the richest cultural heritage and ancient history of the Turkmen people. A wonderful collection of fine jewelry articles, national costumes, Turkmen carpets and carpet products from the funds of museums were on display. The stand of the Committee for Precious Metals and Stones of the Central Bank of Turkmenistan, which presented samples of articles of the “Turkmenaltyn” Enterprise and national jewelry, was of no less interest. The stand of the “Turkmen Atlary” State Association was devoted to “heavenly” horses, which are famous all over the world and whose fame went beyond the boundaries of our native land in the remote past. Then the Turkmen leader and members of his delegation went up to the second floor of the pavilion where they continued their familiarization with the exposition of leading ministries and sectoral departments. The export-oriented products of the Ministry of Textile Industry occupied a special place at the global exhibition. Today Turkmenistan has strengthened its status as the country producing textile goods, which are highly acclaimed in the world markets. The President of Turkmenistan presented Minister of Education of Italy Stefania Giannini with a wonderful silk national hand-made shawl – gynach. Appreciative to the head of state for such a unique present, Ms. Giannini underlined that she was amazed with the skill and talent of Turkmen, women who had preserved national traditions. The Minister of Education of Italy was also presented with the don, General Commissioner of the “EXPO-2015” Bruno Pasquino and Secretary General of the International Bureau of Expositions Vicente Loscertales were gifted the national costume – dons and telpeks. One of the sections of the exposition was devoted to the development of the Health and Medical Industry of Turkmenistan. The stand featured a wide spectrum of products of the Ministry’s production departments, which are equipped with modern technologies and produce various types of pharmaceuticals, medicinal water, therapeutic clay and sea salt, iodine sticks and pencils, and others. Familiarizing with the stand, the head of state noted that the plant life of Turkmenistan is very abundant. 3,550 species of plants grow in the territory of our country and the Koitendag and Kopetdag Nature Parks which are home to over 1,600 species of wild medicinal plants, 330 of them are endemic. The leader of nation told about the unique medical properties of liquorice and various medical preparations made from it. The exhibition, which demonstrated practically all sectors of dynamically growing Turkmen economy, was a major highlight. Among exhibitors were sectoral departments of the country’s fuel and energy complex and chemical industry, including the “Turkmengas”, “Turkmennebit”, “Turkmenhimiya” State Concerns, the “Turkmengeologiya” State Corporation, the Turkmenbashi Refinery Complex. The stand of the Ministry of Industry displayed various types of high-quality building materials, which are manufactured by enterprises of the Ministry and are highly acclaimed at numerous construction sites of the country. The transport and communication sector was presented in the stands of the Ministry of Communication of Turkmenistan, the State Service of Marine and River Transport, the Ministry of Motor Transport, the “Turkmenavtoyollary” State Concern, the Ministry of Railway Transport, the “Turkmenhowayollary” State National Service. One of the exhibitors of this section was the National Space Agency under the President of Turkmenistan. As known, the first satellite of Turkmenistan “TürkmenÄlem 520E” has been launched from the Space Centre at Cape Canaveral. The tourism industry has received refreshed impulse in its development in Turkmenistan. The exposition of the State Tourism Committee of Turkmenistan familiarized visitors with large-scale projects realized today in our country to develop the tourist sphere, including successful implementation of the project for building the world-class resort on the Caspian Sea coast– “Avaza” National Tourist Zone. The agricultural complex of Turkmenistan was represented by the State Livestock Breeding Association and “Turkmenpagta” State Concern. The exposition of these departments introduced to the achievements of one of the leading sectors of our country’s agro-industrial complex. The Ministry of Construction and Architecture also prepared its stand for the exposition of Turkmenistan at the EXPO-2015. Images of the white marble-clad Turkmen capital and velayat centers – wonderful monumental buildings, administrative office buildings, high-rise residential houses, medical, trade and business centers, social and cultural projects were demonstrated on the monitors. The Exposition of the Ministry of Nature Protection presented major aspects of state policy in utilization and protection of lands, water resources, protection of environment, and ecological safety. Then, the Turkmen leader and guests went up to the third floor of the pavilion, where Turkmen musicians and bards in the traditional Turkmen yurt were performing their best compositions in the open air. Upon completion of the get-acquainted round of the national exposition, the President of Turkmenistan was shown the carpet with an image of the world exhibition’s symbol. Then the President of Turkmenistan accompanied by the officials of the Republic of Italy headed towards the exhibition pavilion of Italy to become acquainted with the exposition of the friendly country. In the evening, upon completion of his visit to the EXPO-2015, the head of Turkmen state proceeded to the airport of Milan to depart for Rome, the capital of the Republic of Italy.