Sheikh Maktoum holds talks with Panagiotis Pikrammenos at Expo 2020 Dubai.

Inayat-ur-Rahman, Business Editor

Sheikh Maktoum Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, met with Panagiotis Pikrammenos, Deputy Prime Minister of Greece.

During the meeting, which took place at Expo 2020 Dubai, Sheikh Maktoum highlighted the close bilateral relations and the strategic ties between the UAE and Greece. He expressed the UAE’s keenness to widen the horizons of cooperation with Greece especially in the fields of investment and trade.

Panagiotis Pikrammenos affirmed his country’s keenness to further expand strategic bilateral cooperation based on mutual interests with a focus on the economy and the cultural and tourism sectors.

The meeting also discussed various regional and international developments and other issues of mutual interest. The discussions also touched on Greece’s participation in Expo 2020 Dubai, and the key outcomes of its participation. The Greek Deputy Prime Minister expressed his appreciation for the exceptional organisation of Expo 2020 Dubai, which brought together 192 countries from across the world.

The meeting was attended by Sheikh Mansoor Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum; Reem bint Ibrahim Al Hashemi, Minister of State for International Cooperation and Director-General of Expo 2020 Dubai; and Sulaiman Al Mazrouei, UAE Ambassador to Greece.

 Meanwhile, ahead of Greek Independence Day on 25th March, Greece celebrated its Expo 2020 Dubai National Day on Tuesday (22nd March), with a packed programme filled with moving music and a message of peace.

Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence and Commissioner-General of Expo 2020 Dubai, welcomed Panagiotis Pikrammenos, Deputy Prime Minister of The Hellenic Republic.

Sheikh Nahayan said, “Greece’s participation represents its strong commitment to fair and sustainable development, inviting its visitors to discover the country’s approach to the free movement of ideas, goods and people. The pavilion also highlights the power of technology and innovation in shaping the future.

“We are proud to share consistently solid ties with Greece that have witnessed significant growth across the political, economic and cultural spheres since the establishment of diplomatic relations in the early 1970s. We are also keen to explore new horizons of cooperation between our two countries, particularly in fields of shared priority such as aviation, tourism and energy.”

Pikrammenos said, “The central message of our participation, ‘Greece Tomorrow, Today’, encompasses Greece’s vision to lead the way into the future in a spirit of cooperation and coordination and a vision of peace and sustainability.

“Expo 2020’s subthemes, Opportunity, Mobility and Sustainability, have become even more relevant as inter-connectivity and advanced technology have come to the forefront of our current way of life after the serious disruptions caused by the pandemic. At the same time, sustainability has become all the more significant for the post-pandemic recovery. These values are all strongly represented by the Greece Pavilion, which embodies the concept of continuous progress and making the best of existing prospects and potential.

“In recent years, Greece and the UAE have forged a strong and strategic partnership, based on our common vision for a peaceful and prosperous development in out greater neighbourhood and on our steadfast adherence to the principles of international law.”

Kazakhstan Pavilion: The festivity continued at the National Pavilion of the Republic of Kazakhstan at the World Expo 2020 Dubai, where special events were held to celebrate the Spring Equinox Day - Nauryz Meiramy.

As part of the celebration, a series of cultural events were organized for the guests of the Exhibition with the participation of artists of the ethnic-folk ensembles “Akzhelen” and “Tarlan”, as well as dance ensembles “Orda” and “Naz”.

In honor of the holiday, a yurt was built in front of the National Pavilion of the Republic of Kazakhstan, where a theatrical performance demonstrating the traditions and rituals of the Kazakh people were presented to the attention of visitors. In addition, a tasting of Kazakh and Oriental cuisine was organized for the guests of the Pavilion. Visitors complimented Kazakh traditional delicacies – bauyrsaks and Nauryz kozhe.

On the special occasion, Dimash Kudaibergen, the popular Kazakh singer also visited the Kazakhstan Pavilion. Dimash, The Honored Worker of Kazakhstan and laureate of international music awards especially noted the ethno-folklore performances of artists on the stage of the Pavilion, and the final show with elements of acrobatics and robotics, representing the interaction of man and artificial intelligence.

Allen Chaizhunussov, Commissioner General of the National Section of the Republic of Kazakhstan at EXPO-2020 Dubai commented ‫“‬the atmosphere of the celebration of Nauryz Meirami enchanted the guests of the Pavilion. For us, Nauryz Meiramy is a holiday of unity. It is equally important to all people living in Kazakhstan. The opportunity to celebrate it at such a large-scale event as the World Expo 2020 Dubai and show to the world the warmth of Kazakh hospitality, goodwill and generosity is a great honor for us.”

On February 20, the National Pavilion of the Republic of Kazakhstan welcomed the millionth visitor. An average of 8,000 people visits the Pavilion every day.

The main attraction of the pavilion includes art project “Picture of the World”, which was included in the Guinness Book of Records for the largest number of people who painted it with a brush.

In addition to tourist interest, the pavilion enjoys high business interest from international business circles. During the six months period, over 30 business events were held at the Kazakhstan Pavilion which included conferences, forums, B2B meetings, as well as projects on the investment and tourism potential of the country, scientific and educational initiatives.