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BIE Secretary General visits Saudi Arabia ahead of World Expo 2030

by Editorial Team
written by Editorial Team

Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) Secretary General, Dimitri Kerkentzes, travelled to Riyadh last week to review the preparations for World Expo 2030 Riyadh.  

The four-day visit included a meeting between the Secretary General and H.R.H. Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, His Royal Highness Mohammed bin Salman, and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Royal Commission of Riyadh City (RCRC).

During a series of technical meetings, the BIE delegation and Saudi officials discussed Saudi Arabia’s framework and course of action for the Expo, including the formulation of the registration dossier, a detailed plan for the implementation of the Expo that is currently being finalised.

The technical visit focused on reviewing preparations for Expo 2030 Riyadh

The Registration Dossier will notably include scheduled operational dates, legislative and financial measures, the Expo site Master Plan, the conditions for international participation and legacy plans. Once submitted to the BIE and reviewed by the Organisation’s Secretariat and Member States, the General Assembly of the BIE will be able to formally register Expo 2030 Riyadh, allowing Saudi Arabia to invite international participants via diplomatic channels and begin preparations in earnest.

The BIE delegation also met with key officials involved in the Expo 2030 project, including, the Minister of Economy and Planning, Faisal Alibrahim, the Minister of State and CEO of RCRC, Engineer Ibrahim Al-Sultan and Secretary of the Expo Higher Committee, Mohammed Al-Suraysri.

The BIE Secretary General indicated: “Since its election as World Expo 2030 host country, Saudi Arabia has been diligently moving in the right direction towards hosting a transformational event. With meticulous coordination at the highest levels, Expo 2030 Riyadh is set to be a remarkable opportunity for the world to discover Saudi Arabia and for Saudi Arabia to welcome the world.”

Saudi Arabia was elected as the host of World Expo 2030 during the 173rd General Assembly of the BIE in November 2023. Organised under the theme “Foresight for Tomorrow,” Expo 2030 Riyadh aims to welcome over 200 countries and international organisations between 1 October 2030 and 31 March 2031.

World Expos, officially known as International Registered Exhibitions, are global gatherings of nations addressing current universal challenges. These unparalleled global events offer a journey inside a chosen theme through engaging and immersive activities. Taking place every five years and lasting up to six months, World Expos welcome tens of millions of visitors, allow countries to build extraordinary pavilions, and transform the host city for years to come.

The most recent World Expo, Expo 2020 Dubai, took place under the theme “Connecting minds, “Creating the future”, and received over 24 million visits. The next World Expo, Expo 2025 Osaka Kansai, will take place between 13 April and 13 October 2025, under the theme “Designing future society for our lives”.

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Exhibitions

BIE Secretary General visits Japan to discuss Expo progress

by Editorial Team
written by Editorial Team

Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) Secretary General, Dimitri Kerkentzes visited Tokyo, Japan at the end of last month to review the preparations for World Expo 2025 Osaka Kansai and Horticultural Expo 2027 Yokohama.

As construction on the Expo 2025 Osaka Kansai site advances at full speed and following the beginning of the transfer of organiser-built pavilions to participants last month, the working visit was an opportunity for the Secretary General to discuss the World Expo’s progress and technical steps with the organiser and government ministers.

The Secretary General met with the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, Ken Saito and the Expo Minister, Hanako Jimi. Meetings were also held with the Commissioner-General of the Expo, Ambassador Koji Haneda, and Secretary General of the Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition, Hiroyuki Ishige. These discussions focused on preparations and initiatives, including progress on pavilions, logistical arrangements, communications and ticket sales, educational outreach, and sustainable practices.

The working visit also provided an opportunity for the Secretary General to take part in the presentation of Italy’s pavilion at Expo 2025, “The Ideal City”, as part of the Italian village set up in Tokyo on the world tour stop of the historic sailing ship, Nave Amerigo Vespucci. Italy was the first country to start building its pavilion, having taken possession of its plot on the Expo site on Yumeshima on 19 December 2023.

Italy’s pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka Kansai was presented on the occasion of the world tour stop in Tokyo of the historic sailing ship, Nave Amerigo Vespucci

 Kerkentzes, stated: “Remarkable progress has been made in the past months. Thanks to the resolute commitment of the organiser and all participants, ideas and concepts are coming to life on and off the Expo site, as demonstrated by Italy’s beautiful presentation today in Tokyo. Acting together in synergy, Japan and the international community are set to deliver a truly extraordinary Expo that will showcase our collaborative spirit and dedication to a better future for all.”

World Expo 2025 Osaka Kansai will take place on a 155-ha site on Yumeshima Island between 13 April and 13 October 2025. The Expo will address the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) under the theme “Designing Future Society for Our Lives,” with its three sub-themes being Saving Lives, Empowering Lives and Connecting Lives.

During the visit, Kerkentzes also discussed the progress on the organisation of the next Horticultural Expo, Expo 2027 Yokohama, which is also taking place in Japan. Meetings were held with the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, Tetsuo Saito, the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Tetsushi Sakamoto and the Secretary General of the Japan Association for the International Horticultural Expo 2027, Yokohama, Masato Komura. The Secretary General of the BIE was also received by the Mayor of Yokohama, Takeharu Yamanaka, and visited the Expo site, located at the Former Kamiseya Communications Facility.

Horticultural Expo 2027 Yokohama is being held under the theme “Scenery of the Future for Happiness” and will take place between 19 March and 26 September 2027.

  • This article was first published by Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) on 30 August 2024.
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Exhibitions

Saudi Arabia elected to host World Expo 2030

by Editorial Team
written by Editorial Team

Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) member states yesterday elected Saudi Arabia as the host country of World Expo 2030 during the 173rd General Assembly of the organisation held in France.

A two-thirds majority of member states voted for Saudi Arabia’s project to host World Expo 2030 in Riyadh under the theme “The Era of Change: Together for a Foresighted Tomorrow,”  between 1 October 2030 and 31 March 2031. Three countries were in the running to host World Expo 2030.

In addition to Saudi Arabia, the other candidates were the Republic of South Korea (Busan) with the theme “Transforming our world, navigating toward a better future” and Italy (Rome) with the theme, “People and territories: Regeneration, Inclusion and Innovation.”

Following the announcement of the results, BIE Secretary General, Dimitri Kerkentzes congratulated Saudi Arabia.

 “On behalf of the BIE, I offer my warm congratulations to Saudi Arabia on its election as the host country of World Expo 2030. In the coming years, we look forward to working closely with Saudi Arabia to bring the world together in Riyadh under the theme, “The era of change: Together for a foresighted tomorrow.”

Eligible and present member states, represented by government-appointed delegates, elected the host country in a secret ballot using an electronic voting system on the principle of one country, one vote.

Saudi Arabia was elected after securing 119 votes in the first round.  Its win was outright as it received the two-thirds majority required, thereby doing away with the need for a second round of voting. Italy garnered 17 votes while 29 countries voted for South Korea. There were no abstentions.

World Expos, which are officially known as International Registered Exhibitions, are global gatherings of nations addressing universal contemporary challenges. They are held every five years and each exhibition runs for six months. The most recent World Expo, Expo 2020 Dubai, took place under the theme “Connecting minds, creating the future,” and received over 24 million visitors. The next World Expo, Expo 2025 Osaka Kansai, will take place between 13 April and 13 October 2025 in Japan, under the theme, “Designing future society for our lives.”

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