Progress in digital landscape

Inayat-ur-Rahman, Business Editor

Dubai: His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, on Wednesday toured the 41st edition of Gitex Global x Ai Everything, the world’s most influential technology sourcing and networking event being held at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC).

Sheikh Mohammed was accompanied by Sheikh Mansoor Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum. The global technology event has brought together more than 3,500 exhibitors from over 140 countries.

Sheikh Mohammed said advanced technology plays a vital role in the UAE’s efforts to drive sustainable growth and development. Adopting innovative technology solutions to unlock the potential of every sphere of development and enhance the wellbeing of society is one of the nation’s highest priorities.

“Over the next 50 years, the UAE seeks to advance its leadership and progress in the global digital landscape. While we seek to harness the capabilities of the country’s technology talent, we also are keen to forge new partnerships with global companies to accelerate our growth in this sector. We have a clear vision for the future, and we are steadfast in our efforts to achieve our aspirations. Our progress will be driven by our country’s talent and global collaborations that will bring the world’s best expertise to the UAE,” Sheikh Mohammed said.

Sheikh Mohammed was briefed about the event by  Helal Saeed Almarri, Director General of the Dubai World Trade Centre Authority (DWTCA).

Sheikh Mohammed commended the efforts of the teams behind the organisation of various events and trade shows being held in Dubai and the seamless collaboration between various entities, which have helped the emirate gain the confidence of the global business community.

Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid toured a number of pavilions at Gitex Global x Ai Everything where he was briefed about the cutting-edge technology solutions and digital products displayed at the global event.

The 41st edition of Gitex Global x Ai Everything features the world’s leading technology giants including Microsoft, Intel, Huawei, Dell Technologies, Avaya, Cisco, Ericsson, Amazon Web Services, HP, Honeywell, Lenovo and Red Hat, among others.  

Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, on Wednesday toured the pavilions of Singapore, Mongolia, Slovakia and Estonia at Expo 2020.

Speaking during the tour, the Crown Prince said: “Expo 2020 brings together nations from all corners of the world in a unique celebration of culture, creativity and innovation. The event boosts Dubai’s role as a facilitator of dialogue and engagement between nations across the globe to build constructive cooperation.” Sheikh Hamdan further said that in the coming years, Dubai will continue to play a key role in catalysing global collaboration to expand the horizons of growth, development and prosperity and shape a brighter future for the world.

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed visited the lushly-landscaped, net-zero energy pavilion of Singapore located in the Sustainability District, which showcases how the nation has overcome geographic limitations to become a green, livable and resilient city. For Expo 2020, the island nation has brought a slice of real Singaporean greenery to Dubai, creating a fully explorable rainforest experience. Echoing Singapore’s vision of a City in Nature, the open-air pavilion unfolds across 1,500 square metres of soft tropical plant life, centred upon three striking, themed garden cones and capped by a solar canopy and hanging garden.

Sheikh Hamdan also visited the pavilion of the Slovak Republic located in the Mobility District, which highlights the country’s advances in the aviation and space industries with a particular emphasis on the unique hydrogen technologies being developed there. Among the special exhibits, the pavilion features a hydrogen-powered passenger car, utilising technology intended to revolutionise the passenger, freight and public transport sectors. According to the pavilion’s creators, Slovakia’s goal is to fundamentally shift hydrogen mobility and increase the safety of this form of transport. The central European nation is also hosting displays on aviation and space technologies.

In the Mobility District, the Crown Prince also visited the pavilion of Estonia, where the country is presenting its e-services and e-governance. By embracing everything from cashless payments to blockchain, the country is a trailblazer in the new economy. The Estonia pavilion presents the e-solutions the country has embraced and showcases the country as a lab where new ideas can be tried and start-ups can be launched.

Another of Sheikh Hamdan’s stops on Wednesday in the Mobility District of Expo 2020 was the Mongolian pavilion, which highlights the nation’s culture and heritage centred around the millennia-old nomadic lifestyle of its people. Visitors to the pavilion can explore the country’s wildlife, including the central role horses play in the country’s culture. They can also experience traditional throat singing and ancient games such as Shagai. Visitors also have an opportunity to learn about the China-Mongolia-Russia economic corridor, as well as the country’s huge infrastructure investments that are set to usher in a new era of development.

Meanwhile, the Spain Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai is delighted to announce the next event in its rich cultural programme, which will feature a performance by double Latin Grammy nominee, Spanish composer, musician, singer and producer, Rosario La Tremendita, at the Dubai Millennium Amphitheatre next Sunday, 24th October at 20:00.

Visitors will have the opportunity to witness a unique flamenco fusion performance ‘La Tremenda’, Rosario’s latest and most intimate concert that delves into the most absolute sound experimentation without losing sight of the traditional flamenco essence.

The artist will perform to the sound of guitarists, and ‘cajon’ box players; surrounded by the exquisite moves of flamenco dancers flying in from Spain to participate in this enchanted spectacle.

As part of the cultural agenda at The Spain Pavilion, this October will also see prominence flamenco and contemporary dancer and choreographer, Olga Pericet with her show ‘La espina que quiso ser flor’, on 28th and 29th October.

With four albums and two Latin Grammy Awards nominations for the “Best Flamenco Album”, La Tremendita has become, according to critics, one of the great innovators of current flamenco and an icon of the new times of the “jondo” deepest vocal form of flamenco music.

The Spain Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai presents a cultural programme with the presence of 32 Spanish companies, more than 200 artists and close to 100 performances, which will take place both in the Spain Pavilion and on the main stages of the Expo site (Jubilee Stage, Terra Auditorium, Dubai Millennium Amphitheatre, Earth Stage).

Meanwhile, with Expo 2020 Dubai providing a safe environment for launching mega global events since disruptions worldwide caused by COVID-19, India has used the opportunity to resume its soft power activities internationally, according to New Delhi’s chief cultural diplomat.

“We started with a big bang at the Expo 2020 Dubai,” Dinesh Patnaik, Director-General of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), told New Delhi-based foreign correspondents at a media briefing.

“At Expo 2020 Dubai, the ICCR is associated with the entire cultural organising for India’s participation. At the opening ceremony of the Indian Pavilion, we had troupes from India performing several dance forms known as Mohini Attam, Garbha and others.”

A pioneering cultural effort was to take artistes from Calcutta’s mass venues, known as puja pandals, which are makeshift halls temporarily erected during the local festival, to perform at the Indian Pavilion. West Bengal’s puja pandals have traditionally attracted millions of people for centuries during the just concluded puja festival this year.

For five days last week, ICCR troupes from India performed at the India Pavilion in celebration of Dussehra festival, which symbolises the victory of good over evil in Indian mythology. Yakshagana, traditional theatre, which originated in Karnataka state was also a feature of the ICCR’s programme during some of these days.

Even as the Pavilion transforms into a permanent exhibition on India after the conclusion of Expo 2020 Dubai, Patnaik said India would soon open its first Cultural Centre in the Gulf in Saudi Arabia. It will be the second Indian Cultural Centre in the Arab world after Cairo.