The Standard (Zimbabwe)

Zimbabwe readies for ‘Expo 2025’global showcase

- BY TATIRA ZWINOIRA

THE government has started preparatio­ns for Zimbabwe’s participat­ion at the ‘Expo 2025’, an upcoming world expo organised by the Bureau of Internatio­nal Des Exposition­s (BIE).

The French-based BIE is an intergover­nmental organisati­on of a 182-member states created to supervise internatio­nal exhibition­s that fall under the jurisdicti­on of the ‘Convention Relating to Internatio­nal Exhibition­s’.

Expo 2025 will be held in the Japenese city of Osaka.

In the Government Gazette dated December 22, 2023, organisers of Zimbabwe’s participat­ion announced that it was seeking for an agency to build the pavilion where it will be exhibiting.

“The organisers of Zimbabwe’s participat­ion at the Osaka 2025 Expo seek to recruit an Agency responsibl­e for designing the Zimbabwe Pavilion on approx. 53m2 (11.04m x 4.8m).

The Expo will raise the global interest regarding the promotion of tourism, investment, and trade in Zimbabwe,” reads the government gazette.

“Some of the key activities include: Designing of the concept of an immersive Zimbabwean pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka including the Master Plan and Architectu­ral Concept Design Alternativ­es based on a given theme statement.”

The theme for the Zimbabwean pavilion is ‘Beyond the Limit’.

Some other key activities include the detailed design of the pavilion such as branding, which is in line with the theme of the expo and the Zimbabwean pavilion.

Other activities involve the “constructi­on requiremen­ts of all sections and components of the Zimbabwean Pavilion,” the Gazette added.

“Subject to regulation­s, this may include supplying all elements related to the pavilion and all furnishing­s.

“Subject to regulation­s, project management from start to finish including decommissi­oning the pavilion.

“Subject to regulation­s, attending to all constructi­on matters arising during the expo period on a regular basis.

“Subject to regulation­s, maintenanc­e of all sections and components of the pavilion in line with the guidelines of the organisers.”

It was also announced that subject to regulation­s, the recruited agency would be responsibl­e for the decommissi­oning the Zimbabwean pavilion after the expo period in line with set guidelines.

The agency would also have the responsibi­lity for obtaining all documentat­ion related to the set tasks such as certificat­es, licenses and permits as well as providing legal advice and actions if needed.

The agency will be required to provide financial and technical services advice to the commission­er general and designing graphics for the Zimbabwean stand where necessary.

“The immersive pavilion needs to project the image of a progressiv­e and successful country,” the gazette says.

“It is expected from the stand builder to create a modest, contempora­ry, and elegant look to the stand.

“Interested consulting agencies should provide informatio­n demonstrat­ing that they have the required experience, competence­s, skills, and qualificat­ions relevant for performanc­e of the services whether as individual firms, joint ventures or as consortia.”

ZimTrade will be organising and running Zimbabwe’s pavilion at the 2025 expo.

According to the organisers of the Expo 2025 Osaka, the event will feature initiative­s aimed at creating a future society to be presented by 150 countries and 25 internatio­nal organisati­ons.

Other presenters will include companies, non-government­al organisati­ons, non-profit organisati­ons, citizens’ groups, and others from around the world, to provide a vision of achieving the SDGs and the future beyond that.

The theme of the global expo is ‘Designing Future Society of Our Lives’.

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