2020-04-01 Forbes Africa

46 |FORBESAFRICAAPRIL 2020 FORBESAFRICA.COM

T

HE CORONAVIRUS HAS PUT A DAMPENER ON

global conferences and events, especially in a year that is

expected to host what has been showcased as the planet’s

biggest show. Currently (at the time of going to press), plans

continue to be on track (see box-out) for Expo 2020 Dubai, due to start

from October 20 for six months in the glistening city of Dubai, in the

United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Fornow,planscontinueforExpo 2020

Dubai,dubbedtheplanet’sbiggestshow.

AnddrivingtheAfricaconnection

andyouthdevelopmentis

ReemAlHashimy,theUAE’sdynamic

MinisterforInternationalCooperationand

DirectorGeneraloftheexpo.

Forthefirsttimeinthenear170-yearhistoryofWorld

Expos,allcountriesinAfricaareexpectedtoparticipateatthe

event.

Forthefirsttime,theAfricanUnion(AU)is alsoexpected

tohosta pavilion,devoidofnationalborders,attheexpo,to

increasethedecibelonthecontinent’spoliciesforpotential

andprogresstomillionsofvisitorsexpectedtodescendfrom

aroundtheworld.

Tostrengthenthealmost50-yearpartnershipwithAfrica,

inFebruary,a UAEConsortiumforAfricawaslaunched,with

theUAEcommittingtoinvest$500million–ina consolidation

of government and private resources – into the continent.

A primary focus of the consortium will be digitization and

developing the youth in Africa.

Reem Al Hashimy, the UAE’s Minister for International

Cooperation and Director General, Expo 2020 Dubai Bureau,

spearheading this mission, elaborates on taking the Africa

partnership to the next level.

A $500 MILLION

CONSORTIUM AND GLOBAL

STAGE FOR AFRICA

A rendition of the Morocco

pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai

BY RENUKA METHIL