Making case for hosting EXPO 2020 in Dubai, al-Hashimy says: UAE EXPO will be a proactive response to addressing world challenges

Paris - June 13, 2012 (WAM) - ''Hosting EXPO 2020 in Dubai is a priority for our people and for our country, and would be a natural progression for us, consistent with our country's vision for the future,'' Reem al-Hashimy, UAE Minister of State and Managing Director of the Higher Committee for Hosting the 2020 World EXPO, said here yesterday. ''If hosted in Dubai, World EXPO 2020 would be the first EXPO in the Middle East, Africa and the Subcontinent, giving the International Exhibitions Bureau (BIE)) and EXPO 2020 participants unprecedented access to a uniquely global World EXPO. The UAE wants to bring EXPO to the world - and the world to Dubai's EXPO 2020. Ladies and Gentlemen, as the world today reassesses its economic, social and environmental paradigm, we are confronted with unprecedented challenges,'' Al-Hashimy told the General Assembly of the 160 member nations BIE, the international body responsible for overseeing the calendar, bidding, selection and organisation of World Expos, while presenting the UAE bid to host the 2020 World EXPO in Dubai at the OECD Head Offices. Acting upon directives from His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, a senior delegation led HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Higher Committee for Hosting the World Expo 2020, launched here yesterday the UAE campaign to host the Expo 2020 under the theme "Connecting Minds... Building the Future". The delegation is in the French capital to attend meetings of the International Exhibitions Bureau (BIE)) and meet delegates to sell the UAE's strengths as the best destination to host the international high profile event in Dubai . The Committee has put together a dossier to include details on why the UAE is best suited to host the event. The UAE is competing with Russia, Brazil, Turkey and Thailand. The winning country will be announced in 2013. ''In this era of intense globalisation, when our fates are invariably intertwined, it is only through a vision of connectivity based on shared purpose and commitment that progress can be made. ''EXPOs connect minds and create new possibilities for the future, and the entire UAE is excited and united behind this bid. In fact, we have chosen the World EXPO as our first national bid for a mega-event. Hosting EXPO 2020 is a priority for our people and for our country, and would be a natural progression for us, consistent with our country's vision for the future,'' she said. ''Our theme, Connecting Minds, Creating the Future seeks to shape solutions through sustainable partnerships. Many of the problems we face today will become even more urgent by 2020. But with connected thinking, challenges can become opportunities for the betterment of humankind. Our EXPO will be a proactive response to addressing some of these issues, three of which are fundamentally relevant not only to the world but also to the UAE,'' she added. EXPOs, she added, are the perfect platform through which connections can take place, between cultures, between generations, and between disciplines. Dubai plans to harness this power, transforming simple connections into smart, strong, sustainable partnerships that pave the path of progress. ''We believe that World EXPOs add meaning and value to society. In fact, host cities are never the same after such a momentous 6-month endeavour takes place. ''The UAE's formative values of openness to the world and the pursuit of excellence have resulted in an easily accessible and highly connected country that is inclusive and welcoming. ''The UAE's success, however, was built on a steadfast determination to create a constructive, sustainable and safe model of development for the Middle East - and beyond, providing opportunities for people to work hard, chase their dreams and live in dignity. Leading the Arab world in growth and human development indicators, we incubate talent and generate ideas, '' the minister said in her in-depth insights into the UAE's bid to host the 2020 World. The UAE minister indicated: ''The UAE is the 21st century Land of Opportunity for millions of hard-working mobile, global citizens. Built on our foundational values of welcoming inhabitants from across the globe, people from over 200 different nationalities live, work, learn, grow, love, worship and blend harmoniously in my country. It is where cultures blur, ideas thrive and hope is inspired. The UAE, she noted, stands out, exemplifying excellence, national unity, safety, security, stability, meritocracy - serving as a catalyst for change, a beacon of harmony and a state of hope. It is one of the safest countries on earth. We are proud of our social fabric that includes people from all over the world - as far away as the Pacific Island of Palau to Panama, from St. Lucia to Sierra Leone. After the presentation, the UAE played a short but simple film featuring a story of an Emirati boy called Ali, and through his eyes, the story of UAE. Following is the full text of Al Hashimy's presentation : On behalf of the leadership and the people of the United Arab Emirates, it is a great honour to be here representing the candidacy of Dubai as host for the 2020 World EXPO. And it is indeed a pleasure to see you all again. This Spring, the UAE welcomed His Excellency Mr Vicente Gonzalez Loscertales, Secretary General of International Exhibitions Bureau (BIE) and his staff to our fair country. Your Excellency, Dimitri, Laurence - we appreciate your generosity of time, of knowledge, of experience and of spirit shared during your stay with us, and on our journey to win the privilege of hosting EXPO 2020 in Dubai. We learned a great deal and have taken your counsel to heart. Distinguished Delegates, at the last General Assembly, I introduced you to my country and to why we want to host EXPO 2020 in Dubai: the UAE's formative values of openness to the world and the pursuit of excellence have resulted in an easily accessible and highly connected country that is inclusive and welcoming. Today, we will focus on the natural synergies and complementarities of World EXPOs and the UAE, particularly why Dubai is a natural host for EXPO 2020. We will also touch upon our theme, and how we plan to develop it so that it becomes a meaningful contribution to our bid to our journey and to the legacy of EXPO 2020. The whole world is experiencing dramatic change. My part of the world is also witnessing significant transformations - many of which have been a long time in the making. These changes were fuelled by the absence of economic opportunity, unemployment, discrepancies between the rich and the poor, to name a few. The UAE's success, however, was built on a steadfast determination to create a constructive, sustainable and safe model of development for the Middle East - and beyond, providing opportunities for people to work hard, chase their dreams and live in dignity. Leading the Arab world in growth and human development indicators, we incubate talent and generate ideas. The UAE is the 21st century Land of Opportunity for millions of hard-working mobile, global citizens. Built on our foundational values of welcoming inhabitants from across the globe, people from over 200 different nationalities live, work, learn, grow, love, worship and blend harmoniously in my country. It is where cultures blur, ideas thrive and hope is inspired. We have become the hub for our region - 60% of Fortune's 500 multi-national companies have regional or global headquarters in Dubai, from where 241 nations with which we conducted US$190 billion of trade last year are served. As a result, Dubai's GDP grew 4.2% last year and is approaching 5% growth this year. The UAE was also ranked the 16th most competitive country in the world by the IMD, ahead of economic powerhouses like China and India, and only one point behind Australia. The UAE stands out, exemplifying excellence, national unity, safety, security, stability, meritocracy - serving as a catalyst for change, a beacon of harmony and a state of hope. It is one of the safest countries on earth. We are proud of our social fabric that includes people from all over the world - as far away as the Pacific Island of Palau to Panama, from St. Lucia to Sierra Leone. EXPOs connect minds and create new possibilities for the future, and the entire UAE is excited and united behind this bid. In fact, we have chosen the World EXPO as our first national bid for a mega-event. Hosting EXPO 2020 is a priority for our people and for our country, and would be a natural progression for us, consistent with our country's vision for the future. If hosted in Dubai, World EXPO 2020 would be the first EXPO in the Middle East, Africa and the Subcontinent, giving the BIE and EXPO 2020 participants unprecedented access to a uniquely global World EXPO. The UAE wants to bring EXPO to the world - and the world to Dubai's EXPO 2020. Ladies and Gentlemen, as the world today reassesses its economic, social and environmental paradigm, we are confronted with unprecedented challenges. In this era of intense globalisation, when our fates are invariably intertwined, it is only through a vision of connectivity based on shared purpose and commitment that progress can be made. Our theme, Connecting Minds, Creating the Future seeks to shape solutions through sustainable partnerships. Many of the problems we face today will become even more urgent by 2020. But with connected thinking, challenges can become opportunities for the betterment of humankind. Our EXPO will be a proactive response to addressing some of these issues, three of which are fundamentally relevant not only to the world but also to the UAE. First: Clean Energy and Water We are committed to diversifying energy sources and preserving the environment to build a more sustainable future for the UAE and for the global community. Masdar is a partner of our EXPO and a revolutionary initiative that supports the development, commercialisation and adoption of pioneering technologies to help tackle climate change including the first carbon-neutral development, Masdar City Second: Transportation and Logistics In an increasingly global marketplace, countries can overcome geographic disadvantages or maximise the benefits of location to enter global supply chains and achieve international economic integration. The UAE is a leading example and a vital hub in the global logistics supply chain. Dubai Airport is the fourth busiest airport in the world, serving over 160 airlines and 200 destinations. Emirates Airlines, a key EXPO partner, serves more than 120 destinations on 6 continents. Every 90 seconds a plane takes off or lands in Dubai. Jebel Ali is the largest man-made harbour in the world, and the biggest port between Singapore and Rotterdam. It is the first stop in the Middle East for most cargo from Asia, Africa, Europe and the Americas. Third: Economic Development Connections not only tell the story of global trade flows, they speak to the heart of development and the metamorphosis they catalyse. The UAE's extensive connectivity across continents, politics and cultures has created unprecedented access and opportunities for robust and meaningful Public-Private Partnerships integrating youth and women into our interconnected global economy. When small enterprises are properly incubated by established institutions, powerful transformations begin to take place, changing lives and influencing societies. EXPOs are the perfect platform through which connections can take place, between cultures, between generations, and between disciplines. Dubai plans to harness this power, transforming simple connections into smart, strong, sustainable partnerships that pave the path of progress. We believe that World EXPOs add meaning and value to society. In fact, host cities are never the same after such a momentous 6-month endeavour takes place. I would like to play a short but simple film for you. It is the story of an Emirati boy called Ali, and through his eyes, the story of my country. We thank you for your attention this afternoon. In conclusion, let me say that, enabled by our easy accessibility and expansive connectivity, Dubai's EXPO would be the first in modern history to attract a majority of its visitors from around the globe, offering unprecedented opportunities to participants and to the BIE. Millions of diverse, international visitors will enhance the fertile ground for partnerships to meet future economic, social and environmental challenges. As the UAE prepares to celebrate its Golden Jubilee in 2021, we appreciate the opportunity to share our dramatic progress as we focus on our mutual and collective futures. Thank you, we look forward to seeing you in Yeosu and again in Paris in November. Mr. Helal Saeed Al Marri, Chief Executive Officer of the Dubai World Trade Centre and Member of the Higher Committee for Hosting the 2020 Expo, spoke about Dubai's ability to set her herself apart, as a distinctive host for the World Expo 2020. He said :''Located at the intersection of 3 continents, the UAE has one-third of the world within a direct 4-hour flight and two-thirds, just an 8-hour flight away. This allows Dubai, convenient access to over 2 billion people with an extended outreach to over 4.5 billion people across continents. ''In today's modern-day world as the economic centre of gravity shifts from the developed Western markets to the emerging markets across Eastern Europe, Africa and Asia, Dubai's location at the epicentre of this movement has become even more pertinent. ''We have converted this inherent geographic advantage, into a powerful strategic advantage by developing world-class infrastructure and a modern economic ecosystem. Our transformation began in the early 1960s with the dredging of the Dubai Creek, to first establish the city's status as trading hub, he told the delegate of the BIE General Assembly. ''Rapidly building on it to create the world's largest manmade harbour in under a decade... Today, we have Jebel Ali Port - ranked among the world's top-10 busiest seaports and a global logistics hub. During the same period, we invested in the long-term expansion of Dubai's Airport infrastructure - scaling up significantly, to be the world's third-largest international airport,'' he added. ''Today, our expansive airline connectivity covers over 200 destinations serviced by 160 airlines, including the 120 destinations served by Emirates Airlines alone. With more of the world visiting us and accessing the rest of the world through our city Dubai is poised to overtake London Heathrow as the world's busiest airport by 2015 and exceed 90 million in international passenger traffic by 2020. ''Our second airport - the Al Maktoum International - is almost instantly accessed from the Jebel Ali Port creating Dubai's new Logistics Corridor that can facilitate freight transfer from sea to air in under 30-minutes. Connections, he went on to say, have always mattered to Dubai a long-standing focus that has enabled our evolution into a trans-continental hub. Dubai is the global financial hub for the region ''Ranked by the World Economic Forum as the number-1 nation in terms of enabling trade, the UAE is also among the top 10 in the world for import-export efficiency and security. Dubai is the hub for the dynamic new Silk Road ''This is especially significant in today's context of growing south-south' trade, and the quadrupling of trade volumes between the Middle East and Asia, over the past decade. ''In an era of intense globalisation and hyper-connectivity, there is a very visible fascination with this next-generation' metropolis - that is Dubai Evidenced by the simple fact, that year after year, more people are visiting Dubai than ever before. Presenting few facts about Dubai, the UAE official said: ''In 2011 alone, more than 50 million visitors came through Dubai airport, making it the fourth busiest airport in the world, for international traffic. ''Two of Dubai's largest retail and entertainment destinations - Dubai Mall and Mall of the Emirates - witnessed a footfall of 54 million and 36 million people respectively last year. At the Dubai World Trade Centre, we saw a 17% annual growth in trade visitors hosting over 35,000 companies from 120 countries across the globe. ''Our ability to attract an international audience is further enhanced by Dubai's established track record, in hosting prestigious events on a global stage,'' he emphasised. ''Over the years, we have developed the expertise to ensure successful delivery of our extensive and diverse events calendar. And have created the ultimate visitor experience with remarkable consistency. The UAE, he added, had invested in sufficient existing and upcoming hotel capacity with more than 80,000 rooms just in Dubai. Latest global statistics report that Dubai has the highest hotel occupancy rate in the world today. Dubai is indeed a global networking destination of choice. ''And our 438-hectare EXPO 2020 site will expect to build on it, with a specialised, hyper-connected environment. Serving as a permanent legacy for the first-ever EXPO, to be held in the Middle East, Africa or the Subcontinent. ''The strong evidence that has been presented today is not only a powerful argument supporting our ability to host the World Expo but also, more significantly it is the bedrock on which Dubai's success has been built. As a hub for global trade -- As the home for global cultures, and -- As a tested stage for global events the UAE has the Means, the Expertise and the Vision to host an Expo for the world,'' he concluded. – Emirates News Agency, WAM