Tugay Tuncer, Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey to the UAE, has said that his country’s participation in Expo 2020 Dubai signifies a new era of cooperation and a strengthening relationship with the UAE.

The event is an opportunity to showcase the robust and diversified Turkish economy that is based on many sectors including tourism, jewellery, technology and construction, he added.

Discussing the growing trade between the two countries, Tuncer said that Turkey’s trade with the UAE stands at $8.5 billion and the numbers are increasing.

“In the first six months of this year, we saw close to a 100 per cent increase,” he revealed, adding that Expo 2020 Dubai will contribute to this growth, especially with the further export of processed food, fruit and vegetables, and construction materials, which this region needs, and which Turkey has in abundance.

Expo 2020 Dubai is also expected to contribute to Turkey’s tourism sector, which is an important sector for the country, he went on to say.

Many people are earning their income from tourism in Turkey, whether they are guides, hotel employees, or working in food production or processing. “We welcomed approximately 30 million tourists annually before COVID-19, across coastal, cultural, health and winter tourism,” he said.

Expo 2020 Dubai will contribute to Turkey’s vision of diversified tourism, including from the UAE and the Gulf region, which are the key visitation markets for this event. “We will show that Turkey is ready and willing to accommodate more tourism during our participation,” he added.

From his side, Mukerrem Aksoy, Commissioner General of Turkey at Expo 2020 Dubai, stressed the strength of the country’s food and agriculture sectors when the world is faced with food security issues. “Turkey produces organic foods and we are ready to supply the world with these foods,” he said, adding that Turkey also has a strong car manufacturing sector, especially the electric cars.

Located in the Sustainability District, the Turkey Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai is held under the theme of ‘Creating the Future from the Origin of Civilisations’, which was designed to reflect the unique history of Anatolia, as well as to showcase the country’s nature and its sustainability goals.

Inspired by Gbeklitepe (Potbelly Hill), one of the first manifestations of human-made monumental architecture, the pavilion aims to offer a unique experience for visitors, highlighting Turkey’s perspective on the future. Visitors can explore products grown and processed in Turkey, as well as its prominent industries, service sectors, and robust investment environment.

East Timur Pavilion: The Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste has joined the world, through its own pavilion, at Expo 2020 Dubai, which currently underway featuring 192 countries.

In a statement to the Emirates News Agency (WAM), Edson-Robert Noronha Lopes, Senior Executive at the Timor-Leste Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai, “Timor-Leste, or East Timur, is a Southeast Asian nation, located between Australia and Indonesia. It is the second youngest country in the world.” He explained that his country is looking to leverage Expo 2020 Dubai to expand its economy through partnerships across tourism, petroleum, and agriculture, adding that his country is rich with minerals and sandalwood.

Lopes added, “The traditional textile of Timor-Leste is known as Tais, similar to the one I’m wearing now.

“Every district or municipality of Timor-Leste has its own “tais” pattern and design. It total, we have 30 municipalities across 13 districts. Each district manufactures their own tais.” The pavilion also offers visitors a unique coffee tasting experience. “We have three types of coffee: Arabica, Robusta and Kopi Luwak. Kopi Luwak has a wonderful taste.” Lopes invited visitors to learn more about their arts, ancestors and history. “In our culture, we have something called Uma Lulik or the sacred house. The sacred house is normally used in a traditional ceremony, although some people are still living in it,” he explained.

WAM