DUBAI: Trinidad and Tobago celebrated its National Day at Expo 2020 Dubai on Friday, attended by Vishnu Dhanpaul, High Commissioner of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and featuring a dazzling cultural performance.

Sultan Mohammed Al Shamsi, UAE Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation for International Development Affairs, welcomed Dhanpaul.

Al Shamsi said: “Trinidad and Tobago shares its cultural diversity, key industries and innovations with Expo 2020 Dubai’s visitors, providing them a glimpse of what it has to offer to the world.

“We are pleased to share thriving relations with Trinidad and Tobago, and look forward to exploring the potential for further cooperation in areas of mutual interest, such as bilateral trade, cultural exchanges and renewable energy.”

Dhanpaul said: “It is very important for Trinidad and Tobago to be here at Expo 2020 Dubai. We look forward to conducting business with the UAE and to maybe open an embassy here one day. We are an open economy, we are export-driven. We offer industrialised Caribbean, we offer the tourism side of the Caribbean. We are delighted to be here to introduce Trinidad and Tobago to the world if they haven’t heard of it.

“Trinidad and is open for business. We invite investors to come to Trinidad and Tobago. We invite people to do business with Trinidad and Tobago, whether you are interested in importing products, whether you want to visit us for the tourism side, or you want to visit us for our carnivals.”

A flag-raising ceremony at Al Wasl Plaza was followed by a vibrant cultural performance of song and dance by the Trinidad and Tobago Cultural Group. The group presented the Memories of Iere’ A Taste of Sweet T&T, which encompasses the country’s popular carnival experience. Showcasing their diversity and resilience, the traditional carnival characters of Trinidad and Tobago danced to the sweet sounds of steelpan and with the rhythms of soca and chutney music.

On Thursday evening (10 March), there was a pre-National Day taste of Trinidad and Tobago at the Angola Pavilion’s stage, preceded in the afternoon by a Business Forum at Abu Dhabi Hall showcasing the country’s energy, creativity and diversity, with speakers including HE Dhanpaul and Her Excellency Senator Hon Paula Gopee-Scoon, Trinidad and Tobago’s Minister of Trade & Industry.

The Trinidad and Tobago Pavilion, located in the Mobility District, allows visitors to experience the Caribbean nation’s cultural diversity, as they interact with everything from performance and visual arts, crafts, fashion, cuisine and other aspects of its culture. Visitors can enjoy immersive virtual reality experiences, sample award-winning products such as Trinitario chocolate and exotic sauces, and play the national instrument, the steelpan.

National and Honour Days at Expo 2020 Dubai are moments to celebrate each of Expo 2020 Dubai’s 200-plus International Participants, shining a light on their culture and achievements and showcasing their pavilions and programming.

Running until 31 March 2022, Expo 2020 Dubai 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.

‘Steel Week’ inaugurated: Ram Chandra Prasad Singh, Minister of Steel, Government of India inaugurated the ‘Steel Week’ at India Pavilion on Friday. The Steel Week will showcase India’s potential in the sector and invite investors from the UAE. Senior officials from major Indian steel producers including Steel Authority of India Ltd, JSW Steel, Tata Steel, Jindal Steel & Power Ltd and AM/NS India were present.

Talking about the steel sector in India, Ram Chandra Prasad Singh, Minister of Steel, said, “Taking forward the vision of our Prime Minister, the Government of India is committed to facilitate accelerated growth in the steel sector, with Make-in-India fructifying into Make-in-Steel alongside Building the New India with Steel as material of choice.”

He also highlighted that the recently launched Production Linked Incentive Scheme for the specialty steel sector will be a cornerstone in propelling the Indian steel sector towards target of 300 mtpa production capacity by 2030, with special emphasis on value-added steel. It is going to be a major step in the direction of Steel Vision 2047.

Speaking during the occasion, V. R. Sharma, Co-Chair, FICCI Steel Committee said, “We are delighted to be a part of the EXPO. India’s trade relations with the UAE have a strong history and with the CEPA (Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement), the relations are going to strengthen further. The Indian steel exports have enabled the GCC countries to bridge the deficit gap. Similarly, the UAE offers a wide potential for exporting steel components to India. Our delegation will be hosting sessions and meetings to showcase the potential of the Steel industry and to deepen the trade relations with the UAE.”

The delegation held meetings with steel companies from the UAE including Dana Steel, Sharaf Group and DP World. The delegation hosted an interactive session with the local construction companies, users, and importers of steel in UAE to understand the possibilities of collaboration to increase steel trade between both the countries and draw from the advantages afforded by India-UAE CEPA.

The Steel Week at India Pavilion, Expo 2020 Dubai will conclude on 17th March 2022.

Colombia’s Hydrocarbon potential: The President of the National Hydrocarbons Agency (ANH) Dr Armando Zamora will be visiting the Colombia pavilion at the Expo 2020 Dubai from March 13-15, 2022. The President will be carrying out this visit to showcase Colombia’s hydrocarbon potential and explore various partnership and investment opportunities with the UAE.

The ANH is an administrator and regulator of the nation’s hydrocarbon resources. The agency aims to invite prospective investors in line with Colombia’s commitment to developing its oil and gas resources due to its numerous hydrocarbon potential resources.