Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 19 February 2019: The Government of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has invited the African Union (AU) to participate in the Expo 2020 Dubai, set to hold from 20 October 2020 to 10 April 2021 on the theme: "Connecting Minds, Creating the Future", with the sub-themes: “Sustainability, Mobility and Opportunity”. The Government of UAE has also offered a Pavilion to AU to ensure its effective participation.
The Chairperson of the AU Commission, H.E. Moussa Faki Mahamat has appointed Dr. Levi Uche Madueke, the Head of AU Strategic Partnerships, as the Commissioner General (CG) for Expo 2020 Dubai in line with the requirements stipulated in the Expo Participation Contract.
The Commissioner General will spearhead the coordination and involvement of all AU Stakeholders, namely: AU Commission, other AU Organs, Regional Economic Communities (RECs), AU Specialized Agencies, African Financial Institutions, the Private Sector, Pan African Chambers of Commerce, Academia, Civil Society, among others, in the conceptualization and implementation of the Expo journey. He will have oversight of all activities pertaining to the preparation and finalization of the Expo, while ensuring cordial and proper engagement with the Bureau of Expo 2020 Dubai.
The AU Pavilion in Expo 2020 Dubai aims to achieve the following objectives:
- Increase visibility for the African Union;
- Draw and attract investments to Africa by presenting “mature” infrastructure developments projects/ innovation projects of young African talents;
- Brand Africa as an integrated Continent;
- Arouse interest towards the potentialities of Africa and provoke reflection on the future of the Continent;
- Demonstrate the active role of the African Union in contributing to finding African solutions to Africa’s problems;
- Showcase the vision of AU and the Agenda 2063 and what it entails; and
- Promote more tourism to explore Africa wonders (nature, culture, eco-tourism, historical and archaeological sites, sculpture, architecture etc.) and the diversity of the Continent.
Notes to the Editor:
Following the decision of the Bureau of International des Expositions (BIE) General Assembly in Paris, 27th November 2013, Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates, the latter was awarded the rights of hosting a Universal Exposition in 2020, which will run from 20th October 2020 to 10th April 2021 with the theme “Connecting Minds, Creating the Future”. In advancing the collaboration between the African Union and the United Arab Emirates, the AU Commission has been invited by the government of the U.A.E as a key partner and stakeholder.
The Expo aims to attract more than 25 million visitors with 70% coming from beyond the nation’s borders.
The Theme "Connecting Minds, Creating the Future", with sub-themes: Sustainability, Mobility and Opportunity has been selected by UAE for the Expo. Connecting Minds, Creating the Future aims to move beyond a theme and towards a way of working. It emphasizes the need to move away from a silo approach towards an interdependent network committed to future generations. The primary way to keep up with a rapidly changing world is through partnerships across sectors, organizations, and geographies. The UAE has committed to a strong spirit of collaboration and co-creation during every step leading to Expo 2020. . In the course of the preparation, a series of co-creative participatory events will be organized to prepare the AU in responding to the demands, under close supervision of the African Union Commissioner General (CG) and a technical team for the Expo.
The World Expo, which takes place every five years, as a global event for everyone to learn, innovate, create progress and have fun by sharing ideas and working together. It is also a platform for economic and cultural exchange
