Fondazione works with, and sits on the boards of entities and companies in which it has a shareholding in keeping with its mission and purpose, and focusing on its core exhibition business and the need to redevelop the area.
Fondazione Fiera Milano is one of the main shareholders of Arexpo, with a 16.80% shareholding along with the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF) with 39.28%, the City Council of Milan and the Lombardy Regional Government (each with 21.05%). Minor shareholdings are held by the Metropolitan City of Milan (1.21%) and the Rho City Council (0.61%).
Arexpo Spa was set up to purchase the areas for the Expo 2015 site from its public and private owners to allow the Expo 2015 Spa company to plan and develop the Universal Exposition.
Arexpo is also entrusted with urban planning work and implementing the post-Expo enhancement and redevelopment project by putting together an Integrated Work Project that is to be submitted to the Milan and Rho City Councils and other government bodies for their approval.
UFI, The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, represents 574 members working in the exhibition sector in 84 countries. It was established in Milan in 1925 to promote cooperation between various exhibition entities and to revitalize the sector after the end of World War I. The UFI is currently considered to be a veritable quality hallmark worldwide and its members represent more than 4,500 exhibitions.
In 2008, Fondazione was appointed the President of the UFI Educational Committee, and is a member of the Sustainable Development Committee: the mission of both is to promote the exchange of information and knowledge and to encourage and promote a wider understanding of exhibitions.
Villa Erba, an architectural gem completed at the end of 19th century, was the holiday residence of the Erba family. This is where the great film director Luchino Visconti spent many of his summers, drawing inspiration for some of his famous masterpieces from the villa rooms. At present, with its antique frescos, inlaid ceilings and Mannerist-style rooms, the villa is the ideal venue for unique events. Near the villa is the Villa Erba international exhibition and conference center, a glass and steel building that draws on the design of the old green houses on Lake Como, and a multipurpose and functional location that offers spaces for a large variety of events.
Fondazione Comunitaria del Nord Milano was established in October 2006 from a project by Fondazione Cariplo to improve the quality of life in the community. Its mission is social and charity work and public services, improving the quality of life in the community and stimulating its civil, cultural, social, environmental and economic development. Fondazione Fiera Milano became a founding partner of the Fondazione Comunitaria del Nord Milano under Board resolution No. 2/06 dated 16 October 2006.
The ISPI is one of the oldest and most prestigious Italian institutes for international studies. It is a private association that became a non-profit organization in 1972 and operates under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and is managed by the Ministry of the Economy and the Corte dei Conti (Court of Accounts). Its members include leading public and private institutes. Its four main areas of activity are: research (observatories and programs in specific geopolitical fields or major global trends), publications, training and the organization of events.
