Czech Republic has begun the installation of exhibits in the pavilion for the Milan Expo

Laboratory of Silence; source: fullcapacity.cz

Prague - Czech organizers have started setting up exhibits in the national pavilion for the World Expo 2015 in Milan. The Czech News Agency reported this today from the office of the general commissioner for Czech participation. Despite the Italian organizers' problems, Czech organizers expect to begin trial operations of the pavilion on April 1, a month before the planned opening of the Expo. The budget for Czech participation is over 180 million crowns.
    "On January 26, we took over the pavilion from the contractor, the company Koma, and we are starting the installation of internal exhibits. The company FullCapacity is currently installing a multimedia system with a live habitat from students of the Czech Technical University," said communication manager Eva Rusňáková. This exhibition is called the Laboratory of Silence and will include 12 square meters of live forest, which, with the help of advanced technologies, will reveal the secrets of the plant world to visitors.
    Czech Republic was the first among 145 participating countries to have the rough construction of the pavilion completed at the Milan exhibition. Jiří F. Potužník, the general commissioner for Czech participation, added that the Czech Republic is likely the first to have started building the exhibits as well. "I am not aware of any country that has already installed exhibits and conducted the final painting of the interior," he noted.
    The theme of the World Expo in Milan, which will begin on May 1 and run until the end of October, is Food for the Planet, Energy for Life. The Czech Republic wants to showcase its successes in science and modern technologies in Italy.
    However, the preparation for the Expo has been accompanied by difficulties caused by unpredictable weather and corruption scandals being investigated by the police, which have necessitated changes in the organizing team. The construction of pavilions for several participants has thus been delayed, and according to Potužník, the Czech pavilion is still not connected to the electricity or water supply. According to him, the organizers have already admitted that not all exhibits may be ready by May 1. However, they assure that at least 90 percent of the exhibition will be prepared. According to Potužník, India and Latvia have already canceled their participation.