As many of you will have heard by now, Malta will participate in the Expo 2020 being held in Dubai. This will present us with an opportunity to be a part of one of the world’s most prestigious exhibitions and to be featured alongside 192 countries at an Expo which will attract more than 25 million visitors from all over the world.
The Expo 2020 exhibitions will reflect on the theme: ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’. When I was in Dubai and spoke to the organising committee, they revealed that they chose this theme because they are seeking to stimulate and spur creativity, innovation and collaboration between the participating countries. And I believe that this sentiment reflects the true purpose of what an expo should represent.
The World Expo organisation was born from the desire for partnership and it is from this spirit of partnership that the Expo draws its greatest strength. The true legacy of an Expo is not in its physical buildings or monuments but in the connections it makes, the people it inspires and the future it builds. World Expos have a remarkable ability to bring people together to discuss, engage and innovate.
The theme of Dubai Expo 2020 is just such a pledge of partnership as it highlights the fact that we are all united in destiny and outcome. Malta has always had good relations with the UAE and we are looking forward to continue to forge business and diplomatic ties between our two countries, as a result of our participation in this prestigious expo.
Many may ask what prompted our decision to be part of this Expo and the answer is simple: this Government is committed to attracting more investment to Malta.
With our participation in Expo 2020, we will be looking to create new employment and investment opportunities for the benefit of all Maltese and Gozitan families. Participation in the Dubai Expo will also give us valuable experience and allow us to prepare ourselves to better protect the interests of Malta in a region that is economically very innovative. Although we are one year away from the opening of the Expo, it was imperative for us to work on Malta’s presence immediately in order to be able to tap into every opportunity effectively. It is an occasion for us to showcase Maltese culture, ingenuity and innovation and to highlight the quality of our financial services sector and education system and, most importantly, to promote our credentials as a secure destination for investment.
As a Government, we believe in constantly searching for new opportunities and finding new and better ways of doing business. We will work to make the most of this opportunity to promote trade and two-way investment and to help Maltese companies capitalise on opportunities in the UAE and the region more broadly.
Dr Cardona is the Minister for the Economy, Investment and Small Business