World’s Longest Suspension Bridge, Strait of Messina Bridge: IHI Held an Exchange of Views with Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, Matteo Salvini
On May 12, an IHI delegation including Hiroshi Ide, Representative Director, President and Chief Executive Officer, visited Italy and paid a courtesy call on Matteo Salvini, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, where they held an exchange of views. The meeting was also attended by Hikariko Ono, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Italy, and Pietro Ciucci, CEO of Stretto di Messina S.p.A., an Italian government-owned entity and the concessionaire of the Strait of Messina Bridge Project (*1).
Matteo Salvini, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure and Transport of Italy
Hiroshi Ide, Representative Director, President and Chief Executive Officer, IHI Corporation
During the meeting, views were exchanged on the importance and significance of the Project, which involves the construction of the world’s longest suspension bridge. The parties confirmed the importance of close cooperation between Japan and Italy in ensuring the steady progress of the Project. Deputy Prime Minister Salvini, who plays a pivotal role in advancing the Project, recognized IHI as an important partner and expressed his expectations for its continued contribution to the Project.
The IHI Group will continue to promote the development of next-generation infrastructure that supports a safe, secure, and comfortable society. As a company contributing to social infrastructure both in Japan and internationally, IHI will further advance this Project, which symbolizes cooperation between Japan and Italy.
(*1) The Project involves the construction of a suspension bridge with railways and roadways spanning the Strait of Messina, connecting the Italian mainland (Calabria Region) with Sicily (Sicilian Autonomous Region), along with approach roads and railway on both sides. Upon completion, the bridge will feature a main span of 3,300 meters, making it the longest suspension bridge in the world, and main towers with a height of 399 meters, which will also be the tallest in the world.
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