Dubai: In a major show of support, Dubai Trade, the premier trade facilitator under Dubai World, on Wednesday announced its official support for UAE’s bid to host the 2020 World Expo in Dubai.
The organisation will seek to raise awareness of the country’s Expo bid by engaging internal and external stakeholders through an ongoing series of outreach initiatives.
World Expo — one of the oldest and largest international events — takes place every five years and lasts for six months. Since 1851, World Expos have provided unique opportunities for people from across the globe to come together and celebrate the world’s cultural diversity and marvel at its technological innovations.
Commenting on this announcement, Reem Al Hashemi, UAE Minister of State and Managing Director of the Higher Committee for Hosting the 2020 World Expo in Dubai, said: “Dubai Trade plays a vital role in UAE’s economy and epitomises the country’s key strengths and values. We are very pleased that it has joined the country’s World Expo bid campaign, and, with its full support, will play a key role in demonstrating that the UAE has the geographical reach and infrastructure required to win the right to host this monumental event in 2020.”
With the theme Connecting Minds, Creating the Future, UAE’s bid reflects the vision of the country’s leaders and UAE’s position as a regional economic hub. If its bid is successful, UAE’s World Expo will be the first ever held in the Middle East, Africa and Asia.
“We are proud to pledge our support for UAE’s bid to welcome the world in 2020,” said Eng. Mahmoud Al Bastaki, Dubai Trade’s Chief Executive Officer. “A World Expo in Dubai would inaugurate a new era of economic growth and technological innovation, while reflecting the country’s extraordinary success and serving as a powerful example for emerging economies across the globe.”
“The preparations that are necessary to welcome the world in 2020 would unleash trading opportunities across a range of sectors,” he continued. “Hosting this event would also foster new cross-border trade long after the event has concluded. Dubai Trade looks forward to facilitating these opportunities and we are very pleased to take part in this important nationwide campaign.”
Dubai Trade integrates multiple trade and logistics providers in Dubai in a single online portal, while promoting the emirate as a premier trading hub, thanks to its strategic geographic position and seamless logistics infrastructure.
Dubai, UAE, is competing against four other candidate cities bidding to host the 2020 World Expo, including Ayutthaya (Thailand); Ekaterinburg (Russia); Izmir (Turkey); and Sao Paulo (Brazil).
The winner will be announced in November 2013 following a vote by the 161 member nations of the Bureau International des Expositions, the intergovernmental organisation in charge of overseeing the calendar, bidding, selection and organisation of World Expos.
