PAVILIONS TO BRING THE WORLD OF WONDERS TO EXPO
▶ Governments are spending up to showcase their successes at world fair, writes Ramola Talwar Badam
Governments keen to make an impact set aside millions in their efforts to impress at Expo 2020 Dubai.
With huge budgets and even larger ambitions, officials hope their pavilions – some costing upward of $50 million (Dh183.6m) – will stand out from the crowd.
From Germany, one of the world’s largest economies, to Monaco, a tiny city-state, authorities say the sizeable investments will be well worth it.
The event, described as groundbreaking by organisers, is expected to attract more than 25 million visitors to the UAE over six months.
“Expos have always represented a showcase of innovation and human inspiration,” said Dietmar Schmitz, commissioner general of the German pavilion.
“In the 21st globalised century, growth does not result from industrial development but is driven by interwoven ideas and connected people,” he said.
“Participation in every Expo represents for Germany an unrivalled chance to be able to contribute to these important forums ... with the aim of hopefully contributing to the progress of humankind.”
Expo 2020 Dubai will begin on October 20 next year. World leaders in science and innovation will arrive in the city to soak up its vision and insight.
India has allocated $50m to build an elaborate exhibition with the help of a film set designer. The construction on a 4,856 square-metre plot will feature an image of Mahatma Gandhi and will be a permanent installation at the site.
“The aim is to use modern technology to convey an ancient civilisation and the dynamic new India,” said Navdeep Suri, India’s outgoing ambassador to the UAE.
“The creative inputs of a famous Bollywood personality who does major movie set designs will be welcome since his company runs cutting-edge digital projections.”
Countries such as France also view the global exhibition as a platform for their companies to forge new partnerships.
For its Monet-inspired pavilion, France will spend an estimated €28m (Dh114.4m) – twice the amount the country spent at the Milan Expo four years ago.
This time, however, more than 80 per cent of energy consumed by the site will be produced by solar panels attached to its roof and facade.
Erik Linquier, chairman of Cofrex, the company implementing the project, said the €20m government allocation would be added to by contributions from French companies.
“For France, Expo will be an opportunity to showcase a bold and positive vision of tomorrow’s world,” Mr Linquier said. Expo budgets include the pavilion concept, construction, retail and food units, organisation of events and the dismantling of the structure.
Participants such as Monaco have already put out adverts for staff, including guides, engineers and a sales team.
At €9m, the principality’s budget may be smaller but it has big plans for an extensive solar-powered structure.
“Our concept is to finish the core and shell of the pavilion by April 2020 in order for us to connect to the grid before the Expo period,” said Albert Croesi, commissioner general.
“This way we will be able to produce electricity with our solar panels for one year and use power to operate the pavilion during [the] six months.”
The pavilion’s polygonal shape using photovoltaic panels evokes a kaleidoscope and the famous Le Rocher – the steep rock of Monaco that looks over the Mediterranean.
“It aims to show the many facets of the principality: characteristics, professions, multiple perspectives, diversity,” Mr Croesi said.
With a resident population of 36,000 people, Monaco will use design to show it is a smart city.
“Three main topics are reflected in all our messages of Monaco 360° through its history and tradition, science and research, luxury and hospitality, art and culture,” he said.
“We believe that an event such as Expo 2020 Dubai is the perfect place to raise awareness, meet counterparts and share these environmental concerns.”