An opportunity for Africa

Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council, toured the pavilions of Rwanda and Côte d’Ivoire at Expo 2020 Dubai as part of a series of visits to country pavilions at the mega global event.

Sheikh Hamdan was accompanied by Sheikh Ahmed Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Media Council; Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Expo 2020 Dubai Higher Committee;  Sheikh Mansour Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum; and Reem Bint Ibrahim Al Hashemy, Minister of State for International Cooperation, and Director General, Expo 2020 Dubai. “Expo 2020 Dubai provides a global platform for countries to not only showcase their futuristic innovations and solutions aimed at shaping a brighter future but also build bridges of cooperation with each other,” the Crown Prince said.

He praised the participation of the African nations in Expo 2020 Dubai, which he said, reflects the rapid progress they have made in various sectors and spheres of life. Expo provides African nations an opportunity to highlight to an international audience their efforts to harness technology and innovation to maximise benefits from their natural resources.

The Rwandan Pavilion, located in the Opportunity District, and held under the theme ‘Remarkable Rwanda’, takes visitors on a journey through time to discover stories of culture and heritage, and gain insights into the remarkable pace at which the nation has grown.


A dance performance at the Expo 2020 Dubai. Kamal Kassim, Gulf Today.

Visitors can see pre-colonial Rwanda in a journey through a space inspired by the ‘King’s Palace’, go on a virtual Gorilla trekking experience in which they can learn about the country’s conservation efforts and taste homegrown coffee at Café Rwanda.

The Côte d’Ivoire Pavilion, located in the Mobility District, invites visitors to experience the theme ‘The Path to a New Africa’ and learn about the country’s efforts to drive an economic and cultural renaissance.

The Pavilion narrates the story of a boy named Silue, whose life changes due to government projects.

Visitors can see, touch and learn the story behind the country’s traditional and modern costumes, fabrics and patterns, and immerse themselves in a world of chocolate that gives insights about the country’s aspirations to put Ivorian cocoa on the world map.

Sheikh Maktoum meets Slovak PM: Sheikh Maktoum Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, met with the Prime Minister of the Slovak Republic Eduard Heger at Expo 2020.

The meeting was attended by ministers and officials from both sides. Welcoming the visiting Prime Minister and his accompanying delegation, Sheikh Maktoum Bin Mohammed highlighted the strong relations between the UAE and the Slovak Republic.

The meeting discussed bilateral relations and ways to advance cooperation in economic, trade and investment fields.

The two sides also explored new pathways to enhance cooperation, promote engagement between each other’s government and private sectors and increase mutual trade.

The meeting stressed the importance of facilitating investment opportunities for UAE and Slovak institutions and companies in each other’s markets and expanding ties in key sectors including healthcare, energy, sustainable development, infrastructure, innovation, and future-oriented and fourth industrial revolution technologies.

Sheikh Maktoum Bin Mohammed and the Slovak PM also discussed several other issues of mutual interest, including global efforts to combat the pandemic and accelerate recovery and growth.

The Slovakia Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai has unveiled the country’s first hydrogen car - a sleek, aerodynamic sports car that produces no harmful emissions.

The MH2 hydrogen car was designed by Branislav Mauk, the Slovak designer who has contributed to the design of every Ferrari model since 2007.

The concept car boasts a unique, functional design, as well as the latest technologies and materials, reflecting the country’s ability to innovate and envision the future of mobility, while also contributing to its goal of promoting sustainability.

Slovakia unveiled the new technology at an event attended by Reem Bint Ibrahim Al Hashemy, Minister of State for International Cooperation, and Director General of Expo 2020 Dubai, along with a political delegation from the Republic of Slovakia, including the Prime Minister, Eduard Heger, Minister of Economy Richard Sulk, Minister of Transport and Tourism Andrej Doleal, and the Commissioner General of the Slovakia Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai, Miroslava Valoviov.

Branislav Mauk said: “Slovakia believes in hydrogen technology. As hydrogen is part water, we took inspiration from water after studying its forms and colours. So, viewed from the top, the car cabin has the shape of a water droplet. For the rest of the body, we took inspiration from the body of an athlete.

Thus, the shape of the MH2 is very aerodynamic and strong, resembling an athlete ready for the start of a race.”

Created in partnership between Slovakia’s automotive industry leader, Matador Group, and the Koice Technical University, the hydrogen concept car reflects Slovakia’s ability to initiate collaboration between the automotive and academic sectors to create something truly monumental, emphasising Expo’s main theme, ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’.

Prime Minister Eduard Heger said: “The Slovakia Pavilion represents the beauty and achievements of Slovakia. As we enter a post-COVID world, Expo 2020 Dubai is a perfect platform to showcase our inventions and technological advances. I wish Expo 2020 all the success, and hope that it will encourage new generations to seek inspiration for making this world a better place.”

Located in the heart of the Mobility District, the theme of the Slovakia Pavilion is ‘Movement of the Future: Hydrogen, Aviation and Space’. Among the other main exhibits are the space robot, Androver, originally created for NASA, and a flight simulator created by the Slovak firm Virtual Reality Media, specialising in flight and ground technology simulators.

Seperately, Sheikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence and Commissioner-General of Expo 2020 Dubai, was presented with the commemorative stamps of Expo 2020 Dubai, issued by the Emirates Post Group in collaboration with Expo 2020 Dubai.

Sheikh Nahyan received the collection from Abdulla Mohammed Alashram, CEO of Emirates Post Group, at the Leadership Pavilion.

The stamps, along with a special postcard, feature the official Expo 2020 logo alongside illustrations of Al Wasl Plaza, the beating heart of the Expo site, the UAE Pavilion, Terra — The Sustainability Pavilion, Alif - The Mobility Pavilion and Mission Possible — The Opportunity Pavilion.

The collection complements the theme and purpose of Expo 2020, “Connecting Minds, Creating the Future”, which reflects new ties, strengthened international collaboration, and the forging of new partnerships, all working toward creating a better tomorrow for both people and planet.

Sheikh Nahyan said, “Expo 2020 Dubai has delivered against its promise of presenting an exceptional event that will be proudly etched into the UAE’s history.

As the first World Expo hosted in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA) region, Expo 2020 is part of the UAE’s legacy.

We are grateful to Emirates Post for beautifully preserving this historical event and achievement — a testament to what we have accomplished in the UAE’s first 50 years and a reminder of our great ambitions for the next five decades.”

Abdulla Mohammed Alashram, CEO of Emirates Post Group, said, “On behalf of Emirates Post Group, I am honoured to present Sheikh Nahyan with this postage stamp for the most prominent event to be held in the Arab world, Expo 2020. We are proud to be part of Expo 2020, and our great nation and its wise leadership for whom nothing is impossible.

“Following the direction of the UAE leadership to deliver an exceptional World Expo, we have issued a set of stamps and a postcard that are equally distinguished. Our efforts are in line with our organisation’s essential role to document prominent events that are historical for the UAE, cementing the nation’s reputation as a pioneer and a global hub that is forward-thinking, inspirational, and ambitious.”

Expo 2020 Dubai, which features the participation of 192 countries, opened on 1 October 2021 and will continue until 31 March 2022.

The world’s biggest in-person event to take place since the start of the pandemic and the first World Expo to be held in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia region, Expo 2020 is set to consolidate Dubai’s emergence as a city where promising ideas that can help create a better global future are incubated.

WAM