Expo 2020: Infrastructure at the core of Dubai’s bid

Staff Reporter / 24 October 2013

Officials outline emirate’s credentials before BIE delegation 

Dubai’s strengths in infrastructure  and connectivity were discussed on the second day of the symposium with visiting representatives from the 167 member nations of the Bureau international des Expositions (BIE). Industry leaders and global experts in the fields of Mobility, Sustainability and Opportunity joined the meeting.
Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Chairman of DP World, spoke in detail about how infrastructure, a key factor for mobility and connectivity, not only contributes to a country’s economic growth but also allows for the international economic integration of other nations.
He highlighted the development of Jebel Ali Port, the flagship port of DP World and the largest container port between Rotterdam and Singapore, and the significant role it plays in facilitating global trade, ultimately contributing to Dubai becoming the third largest re-export hub in the world.
Strategically located just ten minutes from the proposed Dubai Expo 2020 site, he spoke of the opportunities that Jebel Ali Port and the UAE’s operational readiness could bring to a World Expo in Dubai, both for its visitors and participants.
A hundred containers are now loaded or unloaded every minute in Jebel Ali — which also features a new Logistics Corridor connecting it to Dubai World Central Airport. Through this corridor, goods can travel from the port to the airport in just 20 minutes, further enhancing the city’s competitiveness as an international trade hub.
Reem Al Hashmi, UAE Minister of State and Managing Director of Dubai Expo 2020, highlighted the global relevance of Mobility, Sustainability and Opportunity, the Dubai Expo 2020 subthemes.
“The issues addressed by our subthemes, energy and water, transportation, job creation, market access for example, are critical components of any type of development agenda. They are interconnected areas where we witness huge change. If we have the ambition and commitment to tackle the complex challenges the world is facing, we have to take a holistic approach. The foundation of our theme is the recognition that we cannot face these challenges alone and Expo Live, the Dubai Expo 2020 programme of global collaboration, is a concrete mechanism to develop innovative solutions together to deliver direct impact in global communities around the world.”
The sessions also provided an opportunity for the delegates to share their own thoughts and country perspectives on the Dubai Expo 2020 theme and subthemes. Understanding the variety of country priorities, experiences and objectives is of particular importance to Dubai Expo 2020. The global innovation programme, Expo Live, will engage with all participants in the seven years that lead up to 2020 to identify the priorities within Mobility, Sustainability and Opportunity. - news@khaleejtimes.com