Australia to host Pavilion at Dubai Expo 2020

Great news that Australia has decided to be represented at Expo 2020 Dubai.

We look forward to further updates as time progresses and to seeing a robust and cutting-edge Australia Pavilion - both in architecture and content at this landmark event.

Press Release from DFAT follows:

Australia to attend Expo 2020 Dubai

Joint media release

The Hon Julie Bishop MP, Minister for Foreign Affairs

The Hon Steven Ciobo MP, Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment

25 March 2018

Today we announce that Australia will participate in the 2020 World Expo in Dubai, United Arab Emirates from October 2020 to April 2021.

Expo 2020 Dubai will be the first World Expo hosted in the Middle East, and is expected to attract around 25 million visitors from over 180 countries.

The UAE is Australia’s largest trade and investment partner in the Middle East. Expo 2020 is an opportunity to showcase Australian culture, ingenuity and innovation and highlight the quality of our services sector and education system, agricultural products and credentials as a secure destination for investment.

Australia is a longstanding friend and partner of the UAE, and we are proud to be a part of the Dubai success story. Our connections are strong and growing. Almost 25,000 Australians live in the UAE, there are 350 Australian companies represented and over 130 flights a week connect the UAE and Australia.

The UAE is investing more than USD 9.4 billion in Expo 2020. Australian companies have already been successful in winning expo-related contracts, including in architecture, construction and logistics.

We look forward to promoting Australia on the world stage at Dubai Expo 2020. We will work to make the most of this opportunity to promote trade and two-way investment and to help Australian companies capitalise on opportunities in the UAE and the region more broadly.

Media enquiries

Minister's office: (02) 6277 7500

DFAT Media Liaison: (02) 6261 1555

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Original of this Press Release can be viewed here:

https://foreignminister.gov.au/releases/Pages/2018/jb_mr_180325.aspx

Australia at Dubai Expo 2020 - 1000 Days to Go

The Hon Andrew Laming MP
Member for Bowman
Federal Parliament of Australia

24 January 2018

Dear Mr Laming:

My name is John McGregor and I run an organisation that advocates for the legacy of Brisbane's World Expo 88 and representation of Australia at World Expositions - both as representative and host, entitled "Celebrate 88".

Today marks 1000 days till the commencement of Dubai Expo 2020, and despite voting for Dubai several years ago, it appears DFAT has yet to commit to any funding for an Australian Pavilion at Dubai.

Correspondingly, as my local federal Parliament member, I would be grateful if you could forward following message - sent to Austrade's Dubai office - also to the Minister for Foreign Affairs Ms Julie Bishop MP and Minister for Trade Mr Steven Ciobo MP - for their response.

With warm regards

JOHN MCGREGOR
CELEBRATE 88
.............

Dear Sir/Madam:

AUSTRALIA AT DUBAI EXPO 2020

As we enter into 1000 days to go before the commencement of Expo 2020, I believe now is the time to ramp up Australia's commitment to be represented with a Pavilion at Dubai.

As you no doubt know, Australia was one of the BIE member states that voted for Dubai to host Expo 2020, and our Minister for Foreign Affairs warmly welcomed Dubai's success in being selected to be the expo's host.

It is now time, I believe, to "walk the walk" and "talk the talk" and ramp up our congratulatory rhetoric and set aside funds for a Pavilion at Dubai.

Already Australia has seen two recent World's Fairs pass - Milano 2015 - and Astana 2017 - without representation by an Australia Pavilion.

We do not wish to rest on the laurels of our very successful Pavilions at Shanghai 2010 and Yeosu Korea 2012 and let our absences at Milan and Astana become a precedent for not being represented in Dubai.

As the first World Expo in the middle east, and as a worldwide microcosm of nations and corporations will be represented at Dubai - including our our own neighbour from across the ditch New Zealand - it is important for Australia to be at Dubai, to prove to the world that yes we are forward thinking and still relevant commercially, diplomatically, and personally on the world stage that being participants at a World Expo affords us.

I trust through this email to Austrade Dubai and to my local member Mr Andrew Laming MP, the Hon Ms Bishop MP and her counterpart in trade the Hon Mr Ciobo MP we can re-stoke our commitment to regional and international world peace, trade, diplomacy and personal exchange through an outstanding Pavilion at Dubai - connecting minds - and creating the future.

I would be grateful for your response.

Yours sincerely

John R McGregor
Celebrate 88!
- Celebrating Brisbane's World Expo '88 and Australia at World Expositions -

celebrate@celebrate88.com
http://www.celebrate88.com/

Queensland, Australia

http://www.facebook.com/celebrate88/
http://twitter.com/celebrate88
http://YouTube.com/foundationexpo88/
http://worldexpositionssnapshot.blogspot.com

"It is a great and glorious end to bless the sons of man,
And meet for peace and doing good, in kindness, while we can;
It is a greater, and more blest, the human heart to raise
Up to the God who giveth all, with gratitude and praise."

Excerpt from prose by Martin Tupper Farquhar, on the 1851 London Crystal Palace Exhibition