Giovanni Mantovani has been with Veronafiere since 1985 and since 2001 he is the Director General of what is Italy’s largest direct organizer of Trade Fairs. Much of the remarkable success of internationalization of Veronafiere activities can be attributed to him. This is the second visit of Mr. Mantovani to New Delhi.

A man of many accomplishments, he is the President of Genius Vini consortium – founded by Veronafiere, Unione Italiana Vini and Federvini with the objective of promotion of wine and agrofood sector at International level.

Also, since October 2006, he is the Vice President of AEFI – Association of Italian Trade Fair Organizers. A member of the Coordinating Committee of the Catholic Foundation, Mantovani has written important articles in the publication "Quaderni di Azione Sociale", Roma 1986 titled "AgroFood Sector: The case of Veneto" , "Fairs: What development ?", in the publication entitled "Sinergie", Verona 1995 and "Fair, rather Fair System", on the website Nordesteuropa.it, Padova 2006.

Professor of Agricultural Economics at the Veterinary Medicine University of Bologna, Mr De Castro chaired, from January 2001 to May 2004 the Minister chaired the "Nomisma" Economics' Studies Institute. He also chaired the Qualivita Foundation and currently runs the International Agricultural Policy Magazine edited by the Informatore Agrario in Verona. He is professor at the Agriculture Academy of Bologna, the Georgofili Agricultural Economics Academy of Florence, the Agriculture Academy of Pesaro and the National Academy of Treja.

From 1996 to 1998 he was economic advisor of Prime Minister Romano Prodi and Economic Advisor of the Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Resources, Michele Pinto. Since 1st June to 31st December 2000 he was appointed as special Advisor of the EU Commission's President. From 21st October 1998 to 25th April 2000 he served as Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Policies in both Governments chaired by D'Alema.

On November 2000, President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi awarded him the "Cavaliere di Gran Croce al merito della Repubblica Italiana" merit honour. He is the scientific coordinator of the International Center for Advanced Mediterranean Agronomic Studies (CIHEAM) in Paris, and scientific Director of the Genio Rurale Magazine: a magazine on goods evaluation and territory science of Edagricole.

He is also member of the Italian Agricultural Economists' Society (SIDEA) and of the European Agricultural Economics Association (EAEA). Candidate at the Political Elections held from 9th-10th April 2006 in Apulia in the Ulivo list, he was elected in the XV Legislature. He was appointed Minister of Agriculture, Food and Forestry Policies on 17th May 2006 in the current Government chaired by Romano Prodi.