Tonga plans for Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai [1]
Wednesday, January 9, 2019 - 15:42. Updated on Friday, January 11, 2019 - 10:11.
A new national committee to plan Tonga's participation at "Expo 2020 Dubai" held its first introductory meeting today at Consular House, where invited private sector representatives looked at the challenge ahead, of presenting Tonga to the world.
Expo 2020 is a World Exposition to be hosted by Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, opening on October 20, 2020.With a theme ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’, Expo 2020 aims to be a six-month celebration of creativity, innovation, humanity and world cultures.
Chaired by HM Queen Nanasipau'u, the Tonga National Expo Planning Committee is tasked with providing an action plan by November this year.
Tonga's Ambassador designate to UAE, 'Akau'ola, said that Expo 2020 Dubai will be the first time for Tonga to have its own dedicated pavilion at an Expo. Usually, Tonga just has a table. Tonga's stand-alone pavilion in Dubai, being built and gifted by the UAE government, will be two stories high, with ground floor displays and upper floor offices and meeting rooms. The pavilion will showcase Tonga to the world in the “Opportunities section” of Expo 2020.
The planning committee is being formed with the support of King Tupou VI and Queen Nanasipau'u and today included invited private sector representatives from Agriculture (Minoru Nishi), Tourism (Liz Cowley), Arts (Tanya Edwards), Culture (Robina Nakao), Chamber of Commerce (Sam Vea), and Public Relations (Jo Bourke). Other local representatives have been invited to represent sectors of Fishing, Youth, and "Grassroots". Prior to the World Expo 2020, Tongan exporter Nishi Trading will be also taking part in a World Food Expo in Dubai.
'Akau'ola said there is also an opportunity at Expo for Tonga to show its traditional foodstuffs. While Tonga does not have many exports it was an opportunity to attract investors and develop markets in agriculture and fishing. “We might be able to interest people in our lovely red snapper,” he said
Tonga Pavilion
Tonga needs to plan not only its displays for its Expo 2020 pavilion but also for the management and staffing of the pavilion, which will be open from 10:00am to 2:00am daily for six months from 10 October 2020 to 10 April 2021.
'Akau'ola said that King Tupou VI visited the building site last year. The King wanted it to benefit all the people of Tonga, and sectors not usually exposed in Expos would be involved.
"The King and Queen made it clear to the committee that two sectors of society Youth and Grassroots, would be part of Tonga's story to the world.”
He said that one idea was that the Tonga Pavilion might be staffed and run by youth from Tonga who would be trained for the roles.
'Akau'ola said once a plan was decided by the committee, then Tonga's participation at the Expo 2020 would still require funding and sponsorship. This might come from private sector participants or from donor support.
The World Expo or World Fair is hosted by different countries every five years. Expo 2020 Dubai is expected to draw 25 million visitors during the six months it is open. It will provide a platform to foster creativity, innovation, and collaboration globally.