News Desk
DUBAI: A total of 190 countries have confirmed their participation in Expo 2020 Dubai, confirming its position as a truly global destination and bringing to life the World Expo’s theme of ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’.
With just under 700 days to go until Expo 2020’s opening ceremony, the milestone means that Expo has already surpassed the 180-nation commitment set out in its successful 2013 bid to host a World Expo for the first time in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA) region.
The announcement comes on the opening day of Expo 2020’s third International Participants Meeting (IPM), which will see hundreds of delegates from around the world gather in Dubai to receive information and updates on the delivery of the biggest event to ever be held in the Arab world.
Her Excellency Reem Al Hashimy, UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation and Director General, Dubai Expo 2020 Bureau, said: “In less than two years’ time, Expo 2020 Dubai will welcome the international community to the UAE for a six-month celebration of human ingenuity and progress, allowing millions of people to experience the world in one place.
“Confirming 190 international participants is further testament to the UAE’s stature on the international stage and demonstrates the world’s confidence in the UAE’s ability to bring the world together. I would like to thank all the UAE government departments that have worked together to make this achievement possible.
“Expo 2020 offers an opportunity for countries from every corner of the planet to showcase their cultures, ideas and innovations to millions of visitors, and every participating nation will play an important role in the delivery of an exceptional World Expo.”
Taking place from 26-27 November, this year’s IPM will cover a wide range of topics relating to the design, delivery and content of country pavilions. The agenda will include updates on site progress and details of how Expo 2020 is supporting the participant journey, as well as information sessions and panel discussions involving participating nations.
Vicente G Loscertales, Secretary General of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE), the governing body of World Expos, said: “As the first World Expo in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia region, the UAE and Dubai has been working to create a platform to foster creativity, innovation and partnership globally. In the next few days, Expo 2020 Dubai will take us through all the aspects of the preparation and implementation to deliver a transformative event that will have a significant impact on the host city and nation, youth and the world.
“This year’s IPM is an opportunity to further engage with international participants and learn more about their plans for the next World Expo. With more and more countries now revealing their pavilion designs and content plans, we are already seeing key contributions to the overall Expo 2020 experience. We also look forward to seeing the progress made by Expo 2020 to deliver a truly lively, educational, exciting and above all, meaningful World Expo.”
For the first time in the 167-year history of World Expos, each participating country will have its own pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai, giving all nations the opportunity to showcase their achievements, innovations, cultures and long-term visions to the world. Country pavilions will also be organised according to Expo 2020’s key subthemes of Opportunity, Mobility and Sustainability, rather than geographically – another World Expo first.
Along with Al Wasl Plaza and the three Thematic Pavilions, national pavilions and their exciting content will be major drawcards for the millions of people who come to Expo 2020, representing an integral part of the global destination’s exceptional visitor experience.
A number of nations will sign their official Expo 2020 participation contracts during the IPM, after confirming their chosen subtheme and pavilion plot. Countries that have already unveiled their pavilion plans include Austria, Brazil, Czech Republic, Finland, Germany, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Oman, Poland, Switzerland, the UK and the UAE. More are expected to follow in the coming months.
Organised in collaboration with the BIE, the IPM is held at regular intervals to update BIE members and other countries on Expo 2020 Dubai’s progress and plans, and to inform them of opportunities related to their participation. The inaugural meeting took place in 2016.
Those attending this year’s IPM include ambassadors, government officials, country delegates, commercial partners, BIE representatives and members of the Expo 2020 Dubai Higher Committee.
With 25 million visits expected between October 2020 and April 2021, and 70 per cent of visitors projected to come from outside the UAE – the largest proportion of international visitors in the history of World Expos – Expo 2020 Dubai will bring the international community together for a six-month celebration of human ingenuity and progress.
