Boosting bilateral cooperation

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, met with the Egyptian Prime Minister Dr Mostafa Madbouly at Expo 2020.

During his meeting with the Egyptian Prime Minister, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid emphasised the strong relationship between the two countries.

His Highness congratulated Dr Madbouly on Egypt’s National Day, which will be marked with special celebrations at the Egypt Pavilion located in the Opportunity District of Expo 2020.

The meeting was attended by Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai; Sheikh Maktoum Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Deputy Ruler and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance; Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Expo 2020 Dubai Higher Committee, Chairman of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, and Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group;  Sheikh Mansoor Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum and a number of ministers and officials.

The meeting discussed ways of boosting cooperation between the UAE and Egypt and enhancing bilateral relations in various fields.

The Egyptian PM highlighted the strong ties between the two countries and congratulated the UAE on the exceptional organisation of Expo 2020 Dubai. Dr Madbouly also noted that Egypt’s participation in Expo 2020 is its largest participation in the global event to date. Egypt’s Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai, located in the Opportunity district, features an innovative design that highlights the country’s rich history and civilisation. The Pavilion offers an opportunity to learn about the country’s achievements across history through a virtual 3D experience of travelling to the country’s ancient past.

Earlier, Egypt pulled off one of the most stunning Expo 2020 National Day celebrations to date on Saturday with a concert from its biggest music star. Amr Diab, one of the Middle East’s greatest entertainers, stopped by to perform a selection of his most popular hits, from a career spanning almost 40 years.

Diab took to the Jubilee Stage, with a three-hour concert closing out the day. Earlier on, Expo visitors were able to enjoy some of Egypt’s more traditional entertainment, courtesy of the National Folklore Ensemble, with a two-hour performance on the Dubai Millennium Ampitheatre stage. Then it was fast-forward to the modern day, with the award-winning Diab - who in 2016 received a Guinness World Record as the Egyptian and Arab artist with the most World Music Awards.

Egypt’s National Day began with a flag-raising ceremony at Al Wasl Plaza, attended by Egypt’s Prime Minister, Dr Mustafa Madbouly, who was welcomed by Sheikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, and Commissioner General of Expo 2020 Dubai.

Sheikh Nahyan Mabarak, said: “I am honored to be here with you today to celebrate together the national day of the Arab Republic of Egypt, and I would like to welcome you among your family and brothers in the UAE. I am delighted that you are present in this World Expo, a starting point for the future where our countries aspire to increased cooperation and partnerships in different areas.”

Prime Minister Madbouly said: “I want to congratulate the brotherly United Arab Emirates for its honourable organisation of Expo 2020 Dubai and the warm welcoming [we received] at this global event. Expo 2020 is an exceptional event for us, because it is being held in a brotherly Arab country with which we have close ties, as well as the fact that it is convening during a time when the world is witnessing a new, unprecedented challenge that is the COVID-19 pandemic.”

National and Honour Days at Expo 2020 Dubai are moments to celebrate each of our 200-plus International Participants, shining a light on their culture and achievements and showcasing their pavilions and programming. Each features a flag-raising ceremony at the Stage of Nations in Al Wasl Plaza, followed by speeches and cultural performances.

The Egypt Pavilion, under the theme ‘Legacy Empowering the Future’, will take visitors on a journey of exploration, giving them the chance to discover how the country is evolving, and how Egyptians - the creators of history - are shaping a better future powered by innovation and opportunities. Once home to great, ancient civilisations, Egypt aims to lead humanity again in the coming decade, showcasing its contributions to global development. Inside the pavilion is a 360-degree virtual reality experience, offering an immersive tour of Egypt’s natural and urban worlds, while interactive projected 3D maps deepen the journey. The country will also host more than 90 seminars and workshops during Expo 2020, shedding light on the Egyptian Government’s strategies and key projects for the coming decade, as well as three Business Forums focusing on the Suez Canal, the new administrative capital, and Invest in Egypt. There will be cultural events every month, from modern and contemporary Egyptian art to music and cultural dance, including a performance by the Cairo Symphony Orchestra on 21-22 November. Various exhibitions will be hosted at Dubai Exhibition Centre (DEC), Expo 2020 Dubai, including a Torathna Exhibition, showing the beauty of handcrafted goods from all over Egypt.

Running until 31st March, 2022, Expo 2020 has invited visitors from across the planet to join the making of a new world in a six-month celebration of human creativity, innovation, progress and culture.

 Saudi and Indian pavilions attract huge footfall: The number of visitors to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai reached 500,000 visitors from various Arab and foreign nationalities, as well as high-level diplomatic delegations from various countries as the total number of visitors to the Kingdom’s pavilion exceeded 30% of Expo 2020 Dubai’s visitors. Thus, the Saudi Pavilion achieved the highest number of visits in the history of international exhibitions, in a new achievement added to the list of achievements and records achieved by the pavilion since its official opening on the first of October.

Meanwhile, the India Pavilion, one of the largest pavilions at the Expo 2020 Dubai, achieved 150,000 visitors’ milestone on October 28, 2021, making it one of the most visited pavilions at the Expo. The India Pavilion has received 151,360 visitors since its inauguration on October 1.

With the upcoming Diwali celebrations, the India Pavilion is gearing up to host several cultural and musical performances to entertain the visitors starting 2nd November. Strengthening India’s position as a technological leader, the Pavilion will also showcase digital installations in AI and VR to mesmerize the audience. Commenting on the achievement, Dr Aman Puri, Consul General of India in Dubai & Deputy Commissioner General for India at Expo 2020 Dubai said, “We are elated to cross this milestone at the India Pavilion in such a short period of time and are expecting to achieve even bigger numbers as we progress. We look forward to celebrating Diwali, the festival of lights with great zeal to ensure that the visitors at the Expo 2020 Dubai get to experience the festival.”

The Pavilion has hosted many events pertaining to the growth sectors that have presented the ‘New India’ to the world and has opened a channel of investment opportunities and exchange of ideas with the world. The sessions have attracted various business delegates and international representatives, strengthening the headcount. A plethora of cultural activities have also been showcased at the India Pavilion during Dussehra and Navratri celebrations. These included folk dances, storytelling and music for countless visitors and dignitaries.

The upcoming Diwali week will make India Pavilion an attractive destination with colourful installations and lighting in the form of Swarangoli or LED Rangoli, virtual display of firecrackers and events including performances by leading Indian artists like Salim-Sulaiman, Vipul Mehta and bands like Rooh and Dhruv.

“The Expo 2020 Dubai has truly transformed the way the world perceives our country. Diwali is popular across the globe and the Expo has given us a platform to showcase India’s magnificence to the visitors. Given the large area dedicated to the India Pavilion, we are happy to see the enormous turnout and are prepared to host the enthusiastic visitors who are eager to get a glimpse of the Pavilion in coming days.” added Dr Puri.

The India Pavilion comprises of a four-storied structure where each level is dedicated to highlighting India’s success across various sectors and states. India’s vibrant culture, along with the diverse partnership opportunities and the growing popularity of Indian festivals, food, and cultural performances has attracted visitors across the globe. Additionally, a large Indian diaspora in the GCC nations has also been crucial in contributing to the footfalls.

The India Pavilion, inaugurated by Shri Piyush Goyal, Minister of Commerce & Industry, Consumer Affairs & Food & Public Distribution and Textiles, Govt. of India on 1st October 2021 has observed various state and sector-specific events on Space, and Climate and Biodiversity weeks, where various investment and international collaboration opportunities have been secured for India. Similarly, states such as Gujarat and Karnataka, and UT of Ladakh have showcased their culture, roadmap for growth and investment opportunities by signing MoUs with relevant investors. The Pavilion is set to organise the Urban & Rural Development Week from 31st October- 2nd November, 2021.