A view of the Mauritius Pavilion.

Muhammad Yusuf, Features Writer

Located in the Opportunity District of Expo 2020, the Mauritius Pavilion is a stone’s throw away from the magnificent Al Wasl Plaza and reflects the splendid beauty of the island of Mauritius.

The pavilion — themed ‘Roots of The Future’ — is symbolic of the country’s achievements and how it is intertwined with its past.

It takes visitors on an interactive journey of Mauritius, the tropical paradise island, with a textured seascape wall and forest, and floor projections.

Guests can learn more about the flora and fauna on the island, including the country’s national flower, Trochetia Boutoniana, that grows on Le Morne Mountain (a world heritage site) and the different species of Ebony trees.

Visitors can also spot life-size displays of endemic birds such as the Pink pigeon, the Echo parakeet, the Mauritius fody, the Mauritius kestrel, the majestic Paille-en-queue and the beloved Dodo, which, alas, was last sighted in 1662.

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With these features, the pavilion aims to educate visitors about the importance of environmental conservation.

The Mauritius Pavilion is divided into four zones, tied with mysteries and riddles (sirandanes), which are woven across. The predominant colour of the pavilion is warm, bright and inviting, reflecting the country’s hospitality.

It also highlights the emotional and historic connection that Mauritius has with sugarcane cultivation.

The theme of Expo 2020 Dubai is “Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’’ and the objective is to share innovative ideas with the world, connect the globe and show that different nations’ cultures are interconnected so that together, peoples can create a prosperous and peaceful future.

  Mauritius Pavilion sends out a welcome.

The three sub-themes, namely, “Mobility, Sustainability, and Opportunity”, represent key pillars of the Expo.

Mauritius has chosen to be positioned in the Opportunity district, as it offers the only investment grade International Financial Centre (IFC) in sub-Saharan Africa, providing an opportunity for the African continent to close its financial gap and propel it towards industrialisation and economic development process.

Building on the Expo 2020 Dubai theme “Connecting Minds, Creating the Future”, Mauritius argues that “when all other African countries prosper, we can all prosper together”.

In the pavilion, Mauritius has pledged to put forward its IFC to structure funds and promote trade financing across Africa. Additionally, based on the Expo theme, the message is about getting different nations, religions and cultures to forge together to a future world that is peaceful and prosperous.

With this in view, on the sidelines of the Expo 2020 Dubai, the Ministry of Information Technology, Communication and Innovation of the Republic of Mauritius, in collaboration with the Economic Development Board of Mauritius, hosted an ICT Business Forum (January 10) in Dubai.

The Forum, themed “Mauritius at the centre of digital revolution”, aimed at showcasing the success of Mauritius’s digital story, as well as underpinning the country’s emergence as a global business and technology hub presenting opportunities for the world.

Inside the Mauritius Pavilion.

The official opening ceremony was graced by the presence of Humaid Ben Salem, Secretary General of the UAE, Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The Forum began with a welcome address by Ken Poonoosamy, Commissioner General of Mauritius Pavilion, and Chief Executive Officer of the Economic Development Board Mauritius.

He underlined the strength of Mauritius in continuously readapting and reinventing itself with the aim of collaborating with advanced countries such as the UAE, to develop the suitable ecosystem in supporting Africa’s need for digitalisation and embarking in its industrial revolution.

In the keynote address, Steven Obeegadoo, Deputy Prime Minister (DPM), Minister of Housing and Land Use Planning, Ministry of Tourism, emphasised that the business forum would drive strategic alliances and collaborations and position Mauritius as the platform for digital services delivery.

The DPM underlined that Mauritius is well positioned in a strategic location and shares a prominent business relationship with India and China and is now ready to consolidate its ties with the GCC countries (Gulf Cooperation Council).

Deepak Balgobin, Minister of Information Technology, Communication and Innovation, Republic of Mauritius, presented the opportunities of the ICT sector in Mauritius as the Digital and Innovative hub of Africa.

He called for a greater collaboration with Dubai in the fields of Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things as well as other emerging sectors.

The Forum also saw a series of panel discussions on three major themes, namely, The Journey towards building a Digital Island, Connectivity for a Digital Island and Power Growth through Innovation. The Roots of the Future has the intent to share with the world the attributes of Mauritius’ diverse yet harmonious culture, vibrancy, economic diversity and prosperity.

The logo is seven coloured, reminiscent of the world reknowned volcanic seven coloured earth called Chamarel, very specific to Mauritius.

It is representative of a tree taking its roots in a melting pot of diverse cultures, values and beliefs, with its branches spreading out and decorated with seven fruits and flowers hanging at the edge of the branch, with each branch representing a specific Mauritian attribute or value.

Additionally, the seven branches are also the foundation of seven economic pillars, which sustain the economic vibrancy and prosperity of Mauritius. “We believe the 53 years since our independence has already renewed the DNA for a peaceful and prosperous world!” is the message.