Riyadh is preparing to hold the Expo 2030 event that is geared towards building a bright vision for the future. In its plan to ensure diversity, Saudi Arabia has allocated $353 million to support developing countries to participate in the Expo.
The final vote for the host country will take place through a secret ballot on the 28th of November. Voting will take place during the 173rd General Assembly of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE). The meeting will be attended by representatives of countries at the bureau, where Riyadh, Busan, and Rome are competing.
Riyadh’s vision of the future
This announcement came at the closing ceremony of the Riyadh Expo 2030 bid campaign, with BIE Secretary-General Dimitri Kerkentzes in attendance. The ceremony was organized by the Royal Commission for the City of Riyadh City in Paris. BIE member state representatives, royals, and ministers attended the ceremony.
Riyadh is preparing to host Expo 2030, with its vision of the future, including the post-2030 agenda.
In his speech, Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Adel Bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir confirmed that the kingdom has allocated $353 million to support developing countries. The fund will be used to support more than a hundred developing countries to participate in Riyadh Expo 2030. In addition, the private sector and non-governmental organizations also committed to provide support to countries in need. This affirmed the Kingdom’s commitment to presenting an exceptional and unprecedented version of the Expo.
Al-Jubeir added: “We are deeply committed to environmental sustainability, confronting the challenges of climate change, promoting trade and investment, and achieving greater understanding through dialogue between religions and civilizations to build bridges of understanding and tolerance.”
For her part, Saudi Vice Minister of Tourism Princess Haifa Bint Mohammed Bin Saud announced that Saudi’s bid to host the expo is part of its effort to achieve its national goals. Saudi Arabia believes in the importance of prosperity and inclusion for all. She also stressed that Expo 2030 will be a global platform that strengthens international cooperation and provides realistic results.
Read: Saudi’s trillion-dollar economy: What you need to know
Why Riyadh?
Riyadh has developed its infrastructure to accommodate large-scale events such as Expo 2030. For example, it has added 70,000 new hotel rooms specifically for the exhibition. Engineer Lamia Al-Muhanna, a member of the general planning team for Riyadh Expo 2030, also indicated that the vision of Riyadh Expo 2030 will include one pavilion for each country.
She affirmed the Kingdom’s commitment to enabling full and equal participation of all countries. In addition, Riyadh Expo 2030 will allow countries the freedom to choose their pavilions. Pavilions will range in size from 500 to 6,000 square meters. Moreover, the Expo will provide five options for distinct spaces, and all pavilions will be in completely independent spaces.
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