The Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) was asked to explore the hypothesis of postponing the opening of the Universal Exposition for 12 months : this, according to a note, the decision made today in a teleconference in which the 32 members of the Expo 2020 Steering Committee - including the Commissioner for Italian participation Paolo Glisenti - the Secretary General of the BIE, and the organizers of Expo 2020.
The meeting was attended by Reem Al-Hashimy, UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation and Director General for Expo Dubai 2020. "Many countries have been significantly affected by COVID-19 and have therefore expressed the need to postpone Reem Al-Hashimy said - the opening of Expo 2020 Dubai to be able to overcome the current situation by one year. The UAE and Expo 2020 Dubai listened to them and at the Steering Committee meeting, in a spirit of solidarity and unity, have supported the proposal to explore the delay of a year. We hope to welcome the whole world that we are certain will emerge from this stronger and more resilient emergency situation than ever ".
"We are at the center of a global crisis - explained Glisenti - and at this stage the Expo perspective is more than ever an opportunity for strengthening relations and international collaboration. Italy will continue to prepare for its participation in the Universal Exposition together with all the institutions, partners and sponsors, to make this event an important opportunity to relaunch the Country System, to attract investments and tourist flows in Italy. The Expo will have a decisive importance from this point of view in efforts to support businesses in the recovery of economic and production activity that will follow the health emergency ". The procedure now requires the United Arab Emirates Ministry of Foreign Affairs to submit a formal proposal to the BIE with the new dates of the Exhibition and that two thirds of the 160 member countries of the BIE vote in favor of the postponement. At today's meeting it was also decided to recommend to all participating countries the completion of the construction and safety work on the Pavilions, where possible on schedule.
