Switzerland 1st to confirm Expo 2020 participation

DUBAI / WAM

HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Expo 2020 Dubai Higher Committee, Chairman of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and Chairman of Emirates Group met with Maya Tissafi, Ambassador of Switzerland to the UAE, where Switzerland confirmed officially its intent to participate in Expo 2020 Dubai.
Sheikh Ahmed said, “Expo 2020 Dubai will be an international focal point where people and countries will come together to celebrate human ingenuity, and our shared ability to build a better future. We are delighted that the Swiss government has committed to participate, over four years ahead of the start of the Expo. The decision is an important reflection of the international role played by the UAE, and the significance of Expo 2020.”
The Swiss Federal Council agreed to take part in Expo 2020 at a meeting held last week. That meeting also agreed a budget for the Swiss Pavilion – which will be built on the Expo site – of AED 57 million. The Federal Council explained its decision in an official statement, saying, “Given the economic and political significance of the host country and the geopolitical weight of the Gulf region, the Federal Council decided that Switzerland would participate in Expo 2020 in Dubai. Switzerland’s presence will be a unique opportunity to present the country and its research capacity and innovation in the fields of renewable energies, mobility and the environment to a wider public.”