Baku’s bid to host World Expo 2025 presented
In connection with the nomination of Baku for the World Expo 2025 exhibition, a presentation was held in the Heydar Aliyev Center on December 14 for representatives of the diplomatic corps accredited in Azerbaijan.
Executive Director of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Anar Alakbarov, Assistant to the First Vice-President of Azerbaijan, Head of the Azerbaijani delegation to the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE ) Elchin Amirbayov and Executive Director for Expo 2015 Baku Operations Secretariat Paul Foster addressed the presentation ceremony.
It was noted that the letter of President Ilham Aliyev about the nomination of Baku for holding the World Expo 2025 was transferred to the BIE on May 18, adding that Azerbaijan is a full member of the BIE, and since 2000 participates in the Expo.
Alakbarov went on to say that that the Azerbaijani government is providing high political support to the project and reminded the reception organized with the participation of the First Vice-President of Azerbaijan, Mehriban Aliyeva, in Paris on November 14 on the occasion of Baku's bid to host World Expo 2025.
He noted that Azerbaijan pursues the chance to bring the World Expo to Baku and to this part of the world for the first time.
Talking about the success and experience of Azerbaijan in holding international events, Alakbarov highlighted that Baku hosted the World Summit of Religious Leaders in 2010, the Global Forum of the UN Alliance of Civilizations in 2016, the biannual Baku International Humanitarian Forum, the World Forum of Intercultural Dialogue supported by UNESCO, the Council of Europe, the UN Alliance of Civilizations, the World Tourism Organization, ISESCO - created unique opportunities for active cooperation between member states of the Council of Europe and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and other event.
He stressed that Azerbaijan has become a reliable partner of the world countries, both economically and politically.
Alakbarov emphasized that in Milan the national project entitled “Azerbaijan: A treasury of biodiversity” received a high appraisal among 54 pavilions by the Organizing Committee of Milan Expo and was named the pearl of the Milan Expo. National Pavilion won the prize for the most successful project in the “Design and materials” nomination and was acknowledged as the most beautiful pavilion of the Milan Expo 2015, he added.
The executive director further stressed that Azerbaijan has also attended the Specialized Expo in Antalya in 2016 and won the prize in the one of the most outstanding nominations.
Also, while participating at “Astana Expo” in Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan presented the national pavilion "Land of Energy" and was awarded with a second prize in the “best design” category.
Moreover, it was noted that preparations are underway for the creation of the Azerbaijani pavilion at the World Exhibition “Echo 2020 Dubai”.
Stressing that Azerbaijan is a politically stable and steadily developing country, Alakbarov noted that it will host the European Youth Olympic Festival in 2019, and the European Karate Championship and European Football Championship group stage matches in 2020.
He reminded that Azerbaijan is successfully hosting car races, saying the Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix, first staged in 2016, will continue to be held annually.
Speaking about the tourism potential of Azerbaijan, which has turned into a center for intercultural dialogue, Alakbarov noted that the country has a favorable tourism infrastructure, including more than 500 hotels. He stressed that the rich and ancient culture and unique architecture of Azerbaijan make the country attractive for tourists.
Elchin Amirbayov, in turn, informed about the work done within the framework of the Baku Expo 2025.
He mentioned that the exhibition will play the role of a universal platform for discussing global issues on the agenda of international development and finding ways out in the interests of mankind, adding that “Expo 2025” will positively influence the growth of the number of arriving guests to Azerbaijan, to which tourists have shown great interest in recent years.
Speaking at the event Paul Foster, gave information about the main technical parameters of the project.
Foster said that since November 14, the site www.bakuexpo2025.com has been functioning, which reflects the main points of the exhibition.
Earlier, Deputy Secretary General of the BIE Dimitri Kerkentzes said that an evaluation mission of the BIE on the project to prepare Expo 2025 will visit Baku in the spring of 2018.