Italian Cultural Centre to be set up in Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi: The Italian Embassy is planning to open a branch of the Italian Cultural Centre here which will be the first in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, the ambassador said.

"Like the British Council, Italian Cultural Centres have been established in many countries worldwide but not yet in the GCC," Ambassador Paolo Dionisi told Gulf News.

"The UAE is the hub of many important things and is a right place for the first such centre in the GCC."

It will be a centre for learning the Italian language and cultural exchanges, said Dionisi.

He said he is working hard to fulfil this dream and he has certain positive indications from Rome.

"We are waiting for the budget allocation from the Italian Government."

He said the enhanced relationship between two countries following the recent UAE visit by Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi will be helpful for the project.

"The relations have reached a new plane where there is more acceptance and demand in the UAE for learning Italian language and Italian cultural activities," the ambassador said.

The increasing number of Italian expatriates and Italian cultural events in the country is testimony to it. Although Italians are a small community of 2,000, the rate of increase in the past 18 months was 30 per cent, said Dionisi.

"They are very active with their cultural and recreational associations in Abu Dhabi and Dubai."

There is more demand for learning Italian.

"The American University in Dubai requested me to help them introduce an Italian language course recently. Zayed University is also planning the same," said the ambassador. "Some schools too want the Italian course and we are trying to help them."

Many famous Italian music and cultural legends presented various events in the UAE recently and many more events are planned in the future, said Dionisi.

The La Scala orchestra will perform at the Al Ain festival this month. An Italian jazz group will perform in Abu Dhabi in the coming week.

Two visiting Italian naval ships will exhibit marine protection measures on board in Abu Dhabi and Dubai this month.

The proposed cultural centre will streamline and inject fresh blood into all such activities which will mark a new space in Italy-UAE relations, said the ambassador.