SME Times News Bureau | 25 Jul, 2019
Union Minister of Commerce
& Industry and Railways, Piyush Goyal, reviewed the preparations underway
by the Department of Commerce and other stakeholders for the construction of
the India Pavilion at the Dubai World Expo 2020 which will take place for six
months beginning 20th October 2020 up to 10th April 2021.
The meeting was held last
night in New Delhi where officials of the Department of Commerce, Federation of
Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), National Buildings
Construction Corporation Ltd. (NBCC) and other stakeholders were present.
The theme of the Expo is
“Connecting Minds, Creating the Future” with three sub themes – Opportunity,
Mobility and Sustainability – to generate sustainable solutions to global
problems, demand and collaboration areas across cultures, countries and
regions. More than 25 million visitors are expected and 180 countries will be
represented at the Expo.
The IndiaPavilion will be a
permanent structure being constructed in the ‘Opportunity’ segment. The
building will embody India’s worship of nature and will be environment
friendly.
It will also showcase the 150thBirth
Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi being celebrated this year.
Twenty-seven focus sectors
have been identified to showcase India’s advances in space, pharmaceuticals,
information technology, renewable energy and telecom sectors and also India’s
strength in innovation and start-ups.
NBCC has bagged the Rs. 400
crore project to build the Pavilion at Dubai World Expo 2020. The Pavilion will
have stalls displaying Indian handlooms, showcasing India’s entertainment
industry, the hospitality and tourism sector, India’s gem and jewellery sector,
AYUSH and medical tourism and India’s tea, coffee and spices sectors. India’s
businesses and State Governments will also put up stalls in the Pavilion.The
cultural diversity of India will also be on display at the Pavilion with live
performances, events and film shows.
PiyushGoyal urged those
attending the review meeting to think creatively keeping the Indian ethos in
mind and explore all avenues to make the best of this opportunity provided by
the Dubai World Expo.
Commerce and Industry Minister
added that India’s participation in the Expo may be a memorable and befitting
one.
Commerce & Industry
Minister further added that although the Expo ends after 6 months, the India
Pavilion must continue to function as a showcase in Dubai which is visited by
17 million tourists in a year and India must explore all avenues to make the
best use of the India Pavilion, permanently.
During the review meeting
Commerce and Industry Minister said that it may be explored whether similar
pavilions can be set up in the eastern and western parts of the country to
showcase India’s sunrise sectors, exports and also function as a centre of
information where other line Ministries will be able to set up their offices.
India and World Expo 2020
signed participants contract on 10th April 2018 for India’s pavilion
in the prestigious World Expo held once in five years. The contract provided
for the setting up of India Pavilion on an extra-large plot (about one acre).
This is in tune with the
opportunity for economic activity that India provides on its path to becoming a
USD five trillion economy by 2025. FICCI has been tasked with helping the
Government of India to prepare for Indian presence at the Expo.
The Pavilion is being
developed in Public Private Partnership mode. Leading industries and businesses
are working with the Central Government and State Governments for participation
in India Pavilion.