KATHMANDU: The Nepal Day has been celebrated organising various cultural and promotional ceremonies in Expo Milano 2015 in Milan of Italy on Wednesday.

Nepal’s Commissioner General and General Secretary for Ministry of Commerce and Supplies Jeev Raj Koirala, Deputy Commissioner General Amrit Ratna Shakya, Programme Coordinator Vinayak Shah and Honorary Consul of Nepal in Rome Paolo Nugari participated in the ceremony on behalf of Nepal, including Nepali community with large population, Nepal lover Italians and other Europeans.

Likewise, Minister for Commerce and Supplies Sunil Bahadur Thapa, Italian Deputy Secretary of the Ministry of the environment Barbara Degani, Nepali Ambassador to Italy Deepak Dhakal, Commissioner General of Expo Milano 2015 Bruno Paskino and Commissioner General of Italian Pavilion Diane Brokaw took Part in the ceremony.

The Chief Guest, Minister Thapa, said that in the Expo Milano 2015, Nepal had won the heart of visitors by constructing the most attractive and excellent Nepali pavilion and the function had helped publicise and promote the incredible cultural heritage, arts and crafts internationally.

He remarked that the visitors to the Nepali pavilion constructed in the pagoda style were thousands on a daily basis and it meant that the pavilion was not just attractive; it also propagated the glimpse of Nepal’s distinguished cultural heritage.

The Minister said he was proud to participate in the creative programme just after the promulgation of new constitution in Nepal.

He said that Nepal concentrated on economic development, promoting tourism, increment of investment and creating employment.

Participation in this kind of functions helped achieve the objectives as the nation’s present agenda is economic social development and transformation, he added. The Minister also expressed gratefulness to the Italian government and citizens for their support and contribution by providing relief and reconstruction during the post-earthquake stage in Nepal. He concluded that Nepal was safe for foreign investment and visit together with the commencement of new constitution.

Nepali Honorary Consulate in Rome, Degani, said that Nepal’s distinguished participation in Expo Milano 2015 helped strengthen the longtime economic, cultural relations between Nepal and Italy and also to publicise the arts, culture and tourism potential of Nepal.

The ceremony also supported Nepal to brighten the tourism image of the nation and spread messages that Nepal was safe and peaceful.

The ceremony enjoyed Nepali instrumental music by Pranamundi Cultural Team’s musicians and the cultural procession by various artists.

A Nepali kitchen was also available for the visitors.

As many as 700,000 Euros have been collected from the well-wishers for the earthquake victims of Nepal.