SAUDI ARABIA/UAE – Pirelli, one of the symbols of Italian industrial excellence, has completed its special seven-star series of pit-stops at Italian embassies around the world with a visit to the Italian Embassy in Riyadh, where H.E. Ambassador Luca Ferrari received the brand’s bespoke ‘il-tricolore’ tyres.

His Excellency Mr Luca Ferrari was gifted a set of four specially customised P Zero Colour Edition tyres, which carry the red, white and green of the Italian flag on the inside of the tyre wall. The special tyres were fitted to the official Embassy car in Riyadh with Ambassador Ferrari becoming the seventh top-ranking Italian diplomat to receive the special gift from premium tyre leader Pirelli.

The tricolour tyres were presented during an exclusive event at the Residence of H.E. Luca Ferrari to the presence of more than one hundred guests. Ambassador Ferrari highlighted how more than 30% of the Italian export is made by machinery and automotive goods, which makes Italy Europe’s second largest exporter of machinery and second largest manufacturer in the EU. The Ambassador also underlined that the best cars in the world run on Pirelli tyres, including Formula 1 cars, and that he is proud to receive the beautiful “tricolore” tyres.

Ambassador Ferrari joins his counterparts in Germany, the United Kingdom, China, Russia, the United States, and UAE in becoming a recipient of the tyres which are a symbol of Pirelli industry design and safety excellence stretching back more than 140 years. ‘Il-tricolore’ tyres are also on display at Italian diplomatic offices in major global cities including Paris, Ankara, Tokyo, Mexico City, Brasilia, Buenos Aires and the “Farnesina” (the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Headquarter in Rome).

Carlos Milani, Managing Director Pirelli, Middle East said: “Saudi Arabia is one of the key markets for Pirelli and the gifting of ‘il-tricolore’ tyres to Italy’s ambassador in the kingdom aligns with our strategy to expand our presence across the Middle East.”

“The lifting of the ban on women driving in Saudi Arabia earlier this year has created new opportunities for leading players in the automotive industry. As the leader in the premium tyre sector this development represents an exciting stage in Pirelli’s growth in the region.”

The tyre fitting ceremony in Riyadh was conducted by Pirelli’s mobile service van, a collaboration with United Yousef M. Naghi Co. Ltd., the official partner of Pirelli tyres in Saudi Arabia.

Recently, the United Yousef M. Naghi Co. Ltd. launched the Pirelli retail concept Pirelli Performance Centre in Jeddah, KSA, a first-of-its-kind for the GCC. The centre is designed to meet customer demands for integrated tyre maintenance and oil services and offers a female-only lounge in response to the royal decree to allow women in the kingdom to drive.

• Made in Italy is usually identified with the so called “3 F”: Fashion, Food and Furniture. These are all sectors in which Made in Italy is without a doubt extremely strong. But what many people don’t know is that more than 30% of the Italian export is made by machinery and automotive goods. This makes Italy Europe’s second largest exporter of machinery and second largest manufacturer in the EU.

• This evening is dedicated to a worldwide known Italian brand, Pirelli, a leading company in tyres manufacturing since 1922. They produce the finest tyres in the world, providing innovative state of the art solutions. The best cars in the world run on Pirelli tyres and, most importantly, Formula 1 cars run on Pirelli tyres. The FIA (Fèdèration Internationale de l’Automobile) recently announced that Pirelli will remain Global Tyre Partner of the FIA Formula One World Championship for a further four years (until 2023) and we are very proud of that.

• I’m very happy that the Official car of the Embassy will now run on the beautiful Italian Tricolour tyres that you could see at the entrance of the Residence and I thank Mr. Carlos Eduardo Milani, Pirelli General Manager for the Middle East, and Sheikh Ammar Naghi, President of United Yousef Naghi, for this amazing gift.

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