Reporting to the Press

31 October 2021

Dear Ahmed,

Many thanks for reaching out to me on this important topic.

As you know Dubai Expo 2020 - the MENA region's first World Exposition - is now in full swing with today marking its first month of operation.

Also co-inciding with this is the news from the Bureau of International Expositions Paris that five cities will bid for Expo 2030, Riyadh Saudi Arabia being one of them.

This is an interesting development as a winning Riyadh bid will further cement the MENA region's commitment to not only participating in, but the hosting of, a World's Fair.

In recent years the Saudi Arabia Pavilion at World Expositions have seen innovative architectural and exhibition contributions - a Saudi Arabian World's Fair will also be likely to impress.

It will also nicely tie in with Saudi Arabia's long-term strategic framework to reduce it's dependence on oil, diversify its economy, and develop public service sectors such as health, education, infrastructure, recreation, and tourism, through Saudi Vision 2030. 

Whilst it is not my position to comment on any preference for any individual city bid for 2030, I believe the Riyadh bid would further consolidate the region's commitment to the above.

Once again, thank you for contacting me.

With kind regards

---

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

Tel (+61) 0481 44 1988

PO BOX 1088 Nerang QLD 4211 AUSTRALIA

http://www.facebook.com/FBcelebrate88/

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

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On 31 Oct 2021 20:39, Ahmed adly wrote:

Dear Mr John

Greeting

I hope you are fine

I am Ahmed Adly, a journalist from Q-Post, which is an Arab political website specializing in international affairs and political analysis, 

https://www.qposts.com/

I am preparing a report on Saudi Arabia's progress with a file to host the Expo in Riyadh 2030, and I am interested to get a comment from you about your opinion on this matter, and what the Expo in Saudi Arabia can provide from job opportunities and attract the Kingdom during the coming period, in addition to knowing your view on the extent to which companies benefit from the establishment Expo in Riyadh, and what are the difficulties that Saudi Arabia will face from your point of view and how they can be overcome.

I would be very grateful if you could answer my questions, thank you very much in advance

stay safe

Ahmed