Emirates Flight Catering to serve NZ pavilion
dubai — The UAE and the Netherlands will be working towards innovation, youth and women entrepreneurship, among other key areas, as part of preparations for Expo 2020 Dubai take-off, said Hans Sandee, commissioner-general for the Dutch Pavilion at the event.
Current trade between the two nations is expected to touch $3 billion and is seen to surge as more Dutch companies eye expansion in the region.
The Netherlands will invest €19.4 million (Dh81.1 million) for its Expo 2020 participation. The pavilion was designed by Dutch firms V8 architects, Kossmann.dejong, Witteveen+Bos and Switzerland-based Expomobilia. The pavilion will be located in Expo 2020’s Sustainability Thematic District.
Pavilion theme
The design of the Dutch pavilion and its theme, ‘Uniting water, energy and food’, were revealed on Sunday at an event in Dubai, attended by Najeeb Mohammed Al Ali, executive director of the Dubai Expo 2020 Bureau. Michiel Raaphorst of V8 architects, Roger Kornmayer of Expomobilia, Steven Delfgaauw of Witteveen+Bos and Mark de Jong of Kossmann.dejong, were also present.
“We’re proud of this wonderful design, which shows what the Netherlands is all about. Developing unique integrated solutions that create links, especially in the areas of water, energy and food, where we are world leaders,” said Dutch foreign trade and development minister Sigrid Kaag.
The Middle East is affected by global issues such as water scarcity, food security and rising demand for energy. Gulf countries tend to consume more water and energy per capita than other parts of the world and the majority of the region’s food is imported.
This is where the Netherlands is keen to contribute. By showcasing homegrown solutions that link the issues of water, energy and food — and by working closely with Gulf countries to develop sustainable solutions appropriate to their local ecosystems — the nation’s innovation, knowledge and expertise will help the region create a greener, more sustainable future.
Yas Island, the Burj Khalifa, Palm Jumeirah, the Dubai Canal, the Museum of the Future, the Port of Fujairah and Dubai Airports are all ventures in which Dutch companies have been involved.
With a pavilion featuring a circular climate system, the Dutch campaign and its participation in Expo 2020 Dubai will help the country to capitalise on opportunities not only in the Gulf, but also further afield.
“It’s a real calling card for the Netherlands,” said Hans Sandee, the Dutch Consul-General to Dubai. “We’re looking forward to receiving members of the public and lots of visitors from the business world.”
Sustainable pavilion
The pavilion’s unique design gives visitors a powerful sense of the connection between water, energy and food. A circular climate system — a biotope, essentially — provides visitors, tourists and business people alike, with a sensory experience.
It was designed as a miniature world that you can enter, where water, energy and food are intrinsically linked, and the climate is controlled naturally. In a country with a desert climate, the Netherlands is creating a biotope in which everything is connected, enabling us to produce our own water, energy and food.
The Netherlands is also setting a sustainable example in terms of the building itself. It will be constructed entirely from locally available construction materials so as to minimise transportation. The interior too will feature only rented materials, which will be returned or repurposed at a new destination when the pavilion is dismantled. In this way, its ecological footprint will be minimised.
We’re looking forward to receiving members of the public and lots of visitors from the business world
Hans Sandee, Dutch Consul-General to Dubai
dubai — Emirates Flight Catering has announced that it has been selected to lead the hospitality operations for the New Zealand pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai.
The New Zealand pavilion restaurant, part of New Zealand’s expansive 2,000sqm Expo 2020 presence, will be central to the country’s participation at Expo 2020. International visitors will experience premium New Zealand food and beverage products, prepared by Emirates Flight Catering’s chefs.
Saeed Mohammed, CEO, Emirates Flight Catering, said: “New Zealand is a high-profile destination and its innovative approach to hospitality will allow us to showcase our expertise in food, beverage and hospitality, and to provide a world-class experience to anyone who visits the pavilion. The opportunity to work alongside New Zealand and its visitors to Expo 2020 is something we’re incredibly proud of.”
Members of Emirates Flight Catering’s experienced culinary team, made up of 1,800 chefs from 52 countries, will visit New Zealand early next year to source food and beverage products from experienced exporters for the pavilion restaurant.
Clayton Kimpton, New Zealand’s commissioner-general to Expo 2020, said: “New Zealand’s manaakitanga or warm hospitality is part of what makes us special. We’re excited to partner with Emirates Flight Catering to share our pavilion experience and New Zealand’s food and beverage with the world at Expo 2020 Dubai.”
The UAE has confirmed 190 countries will take part in Expo 2020 Dubai.