ROME - - Italy hopes that the recent UN Food Systems Summit will help it defeat Saudi Arabia to win allocation of Expo 2030 in Rome.

 Both Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, often known as MBS, and Italian Prime Minister Giorgio Meloni were at separate events in Paris this week in bids to host the World Expo 2030.

 The universal exposition attracts billions of dollars of investment and millions of tourists. 

 According to Italian newspaper Domani, the UN Food Systems Summit, which took place in Rome from Monday to Wednesday of this week, was Meloni’s final chance to secure Expo in Rome.

 Also involved in the bid to host Expo is Antonio Tajani, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. Domani adds that despite his, and Meloni’s, best efforts, the final result of the bid already seems to be in favour of Saudi Arabia.

 On Wednesday evening, Meloni appeared at an event in the flower-filled garden of the Italian embassy in Paris to charm the same delegates as those wooed by MBS the previous night. 

 These delegates will vote later this year on the winning Expo city. 

 Meloni introduced a 30-minute sound and light show, seemingly juxtaposing Italian humanist values to those of authoritarian Saudi Arabia, according to the Financial Times.

 However, the picture is complicated as it is not out of the question that the Emir of the UAE, Mohammed bin Zayed, might unleash his political and economic weight to thwart the potential victory of the Saudis, with whom he has not enjoyed good relations lately. 

 Domani adds that with the UN Summit, co-organised by Italy, Meloni wants to show that Rome is able to host hundreds of high-level delegations without logistical problems. 

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