The Islamic Republic of Mauritania celebrated its National Day at Expo 2020, with a visit from Prime Minister Mohamed Ould Bilal Messoud, and a poem praising the strong relations between the UAE and Mauritania, as well as the virtues of the late His Highness Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, founding father of the UAE.

Mohamed Ould Bilal Messoud, Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania was welcomed by Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan, UAE Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence and Commissioner General of Expo 2020 Dubai.

Mohamed Ould Bilal Messoud said: “I would like to extend my sincere congratulations to our brothers in the UAE for the masterful planning and the creative spirit that distinguishes Expo 2020 Dubai, especially in light of the challenges the world currently is facing due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

“The two brotherly countries have well-established and distinguished relations, thanks to the visions and clear-sightedness of the leadership of President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani, President of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania and His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates.

“Investment and innovation of digital development can accelerate the pace of the growth in line with the qualitative leaps the world is experiencing. Therefore, the Islamic Republic of Mauritania is working on establishing an up-to-date strong digital infrastructure to ensure the provision of good services that are accessible to economic operators.”  

Sheikh Nahayan said: “Mauritania’s pavilion highlights the diversity of the country, enabling visitors to discover its unique environments, in both Bedouin and urban areas. It also presents countless opportunities for investments and partnerships across an array of business areas.

“The UAE aims to further work and cooperate with the Islamic Republic of Mauritania to support the growth of the country and its citizens. We also look forward to expanding our partnerships in sectors of common interest, and are confident that bilateral relations between our two countries will continue to grow.”

The Mauritania Pavilion is located in the Mobility district, where visitors can learn all about this West African country, which borders the Atlantic Ocean, with 90 per cent of its territory located in the Sahara Desert. There are three main areas of focus: Visit Mauritania, Invest in Mauritania, and Made in Mauritania.

Visitors can see a traditional racing boat, and learn about the country’s boat-making heritage, and discover Mauritania’s UNESCO World Heritage sites including the ancient Hodh el-Chargui and the old ksar. Samples of unique manuscripts reveal the country’s customs and heritage, while the pavilion also looks to its future plans to preserve its environmental balance and biological diversity.

National and Honour Days at Expo 2020 Dubai are moments to celebrate each of our 200-plus International Participants, shining a light on their culture and achievements, and showcasing their pavilions and programming. Each features a flag-raising ceremony at the Stage of Nations in Al Wasl Plaza, followed by speeches and cultural performances.

Running until March 31, 2022, Expo 2020 has invited visitors from across the planet to join the making of a new world in a six-month celebration of human creativity, innovation, progress and culture.

Chad National Day: Chad celebrated its National Day at Expo 2020 on Jan.11 with a cultural performance featuring a troupe of dancers and musicians, who together presented a unique symphony of drums, balafon (West African xylophone) and singing, during five captivating dances.

Ali Djadda Kampard, Minister of Trade and Industry for Chad, was welcomed by His Excellency Sheikh Shakhboot Nahyan Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.

Sheikh Shakhboot said: “Chad – known as the ‘Cradle of Mankind’ – showcases its rich history, culture and diverse society at its pavilion at Expo 2020, while promoting a future-orientated outlook under the theme ‘The Chad We Want’, inviting us to witness a purely African model of structural and sustainable development.

“We are proud of the relationship we share with Chad, one that has been flourishing in various aspects, such as bilateral trade, and has grown by more than 22 per cent during the past four years. We hope to build on existing partnerships between our two countries, and through Expo 2020 and beyond, explore opportunities for collaboration and knowledge exchange in sectors of mutual interest, such as foreign direct investment, tourism and energy.”

Ali Djadda Kampard said: “Every day we all face new challenges. The most palpable example is the case of the global pandemic … With a synergy of actions at the global level, no challenge is insurmountable. We are simply saying that anything is possible if we decide to act together. It is with a heart full of joy and pleasure that Chad naturally takes part in the beautiful initiative that is Expo 2020. It is a great honour for me to launch today the National Day dedicated to Chad.

“The choice of the theme for Expo 2020 of ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’ through its three subthemes – Opportunity, Mobility and Sustainability – is not accidental. This theme embodies the ambition for the future that we want, of a just and equitable world, responding to the goals of our peoples towards sustainable and harmonious development. Expo 2020 is in a way a crossroads of exchange and learning, of know-how and of sharing. Large, medium, small and very small [countries] come together to discover, learn, understand, help and enrich each other to build our common future. Chad cannot therefore be on the sidelines of this great event and has a lot to offer for the construction of this world that we all dream of.”

The Chad Pavilion, located in the Opportunity District, showcases the country’s diverse cultures, nature and investment opportunities in a range of sectors, including renewable energy, and its potential to become an emerging country by 2030.

Willing adventurers can also discover one of Africa’s best-kept travel secrets, from the oases of the northern deserts, shadowing the herds stampeding through the national parks, or just floating across the azure waters of Lake Chad.

National and Honour Days at Expo 2020 Dubai are moments to celebrate each of Expo’s 200-plus International Participants, shining a light on their culture and achievements and showcasing their pavilions and programming. Each features a flag-raising ceremony at the Stage of Nations in Al Wasl Plaza, followed by speeches and cultural performances.

Running until 31 March, Expo 2020 invites visitors from across the planet to join the making of a new world in a six-month celebration of human creativity, innovation, progress and culture.