AT EXPO OSAKA 2025, ART MEETS CIRCULAR ECONOMY FOR INCLUSIVE AND SUSTAINABLE INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT

WORKSHOP BY ARTIST MARIO ARLATI
EMBRACED BY UNIDO ITPO ITALY

At first glance, art and industry might seem like opposing concepts — intrinsically distant in their modes of expression. The mechanical nature of serial work contrasts with free creation; the meticulous rigor of science opposes the genius of inspiration. Yet, these two seemingly parallel worlds often intersect, drawing from each other in form and content to create something unique and transformative. This dynamic was exemplified by “uncompleted flag”, the artwork conceived by italian artist mario arlati, which embodies the highest values of industry — sustainability, inclusiveness, and cooperation — while specifically reflecting on the environmental and social impact of the textile industry.
On august 11th and 12th, 2025, unido itpo italy - the italian investment and technology promotion office of the united nations industrial development organization - returns to expo osaka on the occasion of the second workshop organized by mario arlati, titled “united flags: youth, inclusivity and sustainability for italy and japan”. Scheduled during the expo’s week themed “peace, human security and dignity”, this workshop will highlight once more the critical importance of circular economy, social inclusion, and international cooperation, reinforcing unido’s core mandate through the medium of art.

__________

“UNITED FLAGS: YOUTH, INCLUSIVITY AND SUSTAINABILITY FOR ITALY AND JAPAN”
Building on the success of the UNcompleted Flag, this initiative evolves from the artistic workshop held in July 2023 — a collaboration among artist Mario Arlati, the social enterprise Il Carro and Monza Arte Contemporanea, with support from the Galleria d’Arte Contini of Venice-Cortina d’Ampezzo. During the workshop, youths from vulnerable social backgrounds used recycled textile waste to create a reinterpretation of the United Nations flag — a symbol not only of unity but also of sustainability and inclusiveness. Embraced by UNIDO ITPO Italy in light of the strong resonance with its vision and principles, the workshop and its result combined artistic creativity with environmental awareness and a commitment to circular economy principles, transforming discarded materials into a powerful statement about social and industrial responsibility.
Since its creation, the UNcompleted Flag has gained notable recognition, and was exhibited at the 2024 CodeWay Expo, a major event organized by Fiera Roma focused on international cooperation and sustainable development. The event’s inauguration was officiated next to the artwork by Edmondo Cirielli, Italian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, marking a significant institutional statement about the values and impact of the initiative.
The upcoming workshop at Expo 2025 Osaka takes this concept further by inviting young people from vulnerable contexts in both Italy and Japan to collaboratively create two symbolic artworks: an Italian flag made by Japanese youth, and a Japanese flag created by Italian youth. Adhering to circular economy principles, these flags will be crafted exclusively from recycled materials, mirroring the approach of the previous workshop. This exchange is more than an artistic endeavor: it is a cultural dialogue fostering mutual understanding, social inclusion, and environmental consciousness.
The flags will serve as both artworks and symbols of cooperation between the two nations. This collaborative process will enrich the experience of participants as well as of the broader audience at Expo Osaka, allowing them not only to develop skills in artistic expression but also an environmental consciousness and intercultural exchange, exemplifying how art can serve as a vehicle for connecting cultures, promoting sustainable innovation, and advancing inclusive societies centered on the individual.
In this sense, the recurring themes of circular-economy sustainability, youth inclusivity, and cooperation at international level, run as a common thread linking the original UNcompleted Flag, the upcoming United Flags workshop at Expo 2025 Osaka, and UNIDO ITPO Italy’s broader mandate.

UNIDO: ACCELERATING INCLUSIVE AND SUSTAINABLE INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT
The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) is a specialized UN agency tasked with promoting inclusive and sustainable industrial development, as reflected in the UN Sustainable Development Goal 9: “Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation”. UNIDO envisions a world free from poverty and hunger, where industry supports low-emission economies, improves living standards, and safeguards the environment for present and future generations — advancing progress by innovation to leave no one behind. Headquartered in Vienna, UNIDO operates a global network of Investment and Technology Promotion Offices (ITPOs) strategically placed across industrialized countries, serving as bridges between their host countries and developing or transitioning economies.
Based in Rome and operational since 1987 thanks to the support of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI), UNIDO ITPO Italy plays a vital role in enhancing the competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) from developing countries and economies in transition. Its mandate includes mobilizing investments, transferring technology and management skills, and implementing industrial projects aimed at sustainable local development. The office also fosters international partnerships and business cooperation with Italian public and private sectors, enhancing cross-border industrial collaboration. Working closely with donors, partners, and a broad range of international stakeholders — including ministries, embassies, regional authorities, investment promotion agencies, universities, and private companies — ITPO Italy advances public-private partnerships and promotes technology-driven sustainable industrialization.
UNIDO ITPO Italy offers a wide array of services to institutions and companies alike, from capacity building and technical assistance to matchmaking and participation in international trade fairs and forums. The focus is on supporting industrial projects that contribute to sustainable development goals while enabling knowledge transfer and innovation exchange. The office’s key sectors include agribusiness, renewable energy and green technologies for the environment, blue economy – all firmly rooted in sustainability and circular economy principles – and, of course, textile.

MADE IN ITALY SUPPORTS TEXTILE IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
UNIDO ITPO Italy has wide experience in the textile sector, main focus of the UNcompleted Flag as well as of the upcoming United Flags workshop. With the support of the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS), the Office is now implementing two projects in this field: one in Egypt and one in Ghana.
“The Egyptian Cotton Project – Phase II” aims at strengthening and upscaling the environmental, economic, and social sustainability of the cotton value chain in Egypt. The first phase of this flagship initiative was developed in collaboration with Filmar Group, and since then has expanded to include Cotonificio Albini – both esteemed Italian suppliers of high-quality yarns and textiles made from Egyptian cotton for renowned brands. These strategic partnerships with the Italian private sector have facilitated a demand-driven approach, ensuring alignment with market needs and effectively leveraging Italian expertise, know-how, and a robust network of buyers.
UNIDO ITPO Italy has also recently launched a project aimed at promoting circular economy best practices in the textile sector of Ghana, a key industry for the country’s economic development. The project seeks to introduce a circular approach by engaging local private sector actors alongside institutions, academia, and business associations. By fostering sustainable investments and practices, the initiative will strengthen the industrial sector, drive economic growth, and generate employment opportunities, ultimately improving the well-being of local communities. In the last two months, ITPO Italy has joined two missions to Accra – respectively with the Italian Cooperation and Made in Italy Circolare e Sostenibile (MICS) – meeting with local stakeholders and visiting the Kantamanto market, West Africa’s largest second-hand clothing hub, for a firsthand insight on the national economy. Both mission reaffirmed UNIDO ITPO Italy’s commitment to driving innovation, sustainability, and industrial partnerships in support of Ghana’s development goals.

EXPO OSAKA 2025: A CATALYST FOR COLLABORATION
Coming back to the United Flags workshop and, more specifically, to its stage of Expo 2025 Osaka, one of UNIDO ITPO Italy’s flagship projects currently underway is “Innovation Gateway Trieste-Osaka 2025”. Implemented with the financial support of the Friuli Venezia Giulia Autonomous Region, this initiative aims to create international networks and foster global partnerships among young innovators, entrepreneurs, industries, research institutions, and business communities to build a smarter, greener, and more inclusive business ecosystem that encourages equal participation of women and youth, leveraging technological innovation for sustainable development.
The project’s activities are designed to connect the innovation ecosystem of Friuli Venezia Giulia with Expo 2025 Osaka. Last April, a delegation of five selected companies and representatives from the Regional Desk for the Internationalization of Enterprises (SPRINT) participated in a business mission to Japan. At Expo Osaka, the delegation took part in the “Selecting Italy” event — a platform showcasing Italian excellence in various sectors — and high-level institutional meetings, such as with Massimiliano Fedriga, President of Friuli Venezia Giulia Region, and Sergio Emidio Bini, Regional Council Member for Economic Development and Tourism. In Tokyo, a networking event held at Yokohama Connéct featured Italian companies presenting innovative solutions through elevator pitches and live demonstrations, followed by dynamic exchanges with Japanese counterparts. The delegation also engaged in strategic meetings with key Japanese institutions, including UNIDO ITPO Tokyo, JETRO, and the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Japan, reinforcing the foundation for long-term cooperation.
This initiative — as well as future initiatives to be implemented at Expo 2025 Osaka later this year in the framework of the project and beyond — amplifies UNIDO ITPO Italy’s commitment to fostering cross-cultural and international collaboration, perfectly echoing the spirit of the United Flags workshop, as both champion international collaboration, circular economy, and youth empowerment as essential drivers of inclusive and sustainable industrial development, in line with UNIDO’s mandate.

OUTLOOK
From reclaimed textile waste in a local workshop to an international exhibition at Expo Osaka, the initiatives of artist Mario Arlati embody a powerful message: sustainability, inclusion, and cooperation are not abstract ideals, but sound realities accessible to everyone, everywhere. To this end, art can bridge industries and cultures, serving as a catalyst for social integration and environmental stewardship in a rapidly changing world. By embracing initiatives centering youth and creativity in industrial dialogue, UNIDO ITPO Italy fulfills its mandate of acceleraring inclusive and sustainable industrial development while inspiring new generations to envision and build a more connected, equitable, and sustainable future.

“United Flags: Youth, Inclusivity and Sustainability for Italy and Japan”
Art workshop by Mario Arlati
August 11th and 12th, 2025 | Expo 2025 Osaka – Italian Pavilion
For more information, please contact Questo indirizzo email è protetto dagli spambots. E' necessario abilitare JavaScript per vederlo.