Day: November 8, 2021

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Venezuela’s Expo 2020 National Day celebrated with a message of hope in diversity

DUBAI, Venezuela celebrated its Expo 2020 National Day on Sunday with a visit by the Venezuelan Minister for Tourism and a flag-raising ceremony at Al Wasl Plaza.

Ali Padron Paredes, Venezuela’s Minister of Tourism, led a delegation that was welcomed by Reem bint Ibrahim Al Hashemy, Minister of State for International Cooperation, and Director General, Expo 2020 Dubai, and Najeeb Al-Ali, Executive Director, Commissioner General Office, Expo 2020 Dubai.

Ali Padron Paredes said: “Expo 2020 is an opportunity to show to the world that this world is a world for everyone. We have to work together in cooperation and it is amazing that there are 192 countries represented here. Venezuela is happy to bring here a message of peace from our President Nicolás Maduro and on behalf of our people who have been working very hard to mitigate the COVID-19 pandemic that has affected the whole world.

“This is a very important day for us – this is the National Day of Venezuela, an opportunity to deliver a message diversity. Venezuela is one of the most diverse countries on earth, not only in terms of nature – rainforest, jungle, plains, Caribbean coast, even the largest desert in the area – but also people – people of African descent, European people, indigenous people, all working to have a better country and a better world for everyone.

“Thank you to the authorities of the United Arab Emirates for all the support they have given us. We have a small pavilion in terms of size, but a very big pavilion in terms of solidarity [and] working for a better world.”

Najeeb Al-Ali said: “At Expo 2020 Dubai, Venezuela aims to educate the world on what it has to offer and build bridges between cultures, with special emphasis on the existing ties between Venezuelan society and the Arab culture, and for that I would like to extend our gratitude to Venezuela for its exceptional efforts.”

The Venezuela Pavilion, inspired by Venezuelan master of kinetic art Carlos Cruz-Diez, provides a journey through the country’s eight regions, with visitors able to marvel at its geological and cultural heritage. Traditional Venezuelan food, drinks, coffee and chocolate can be sampled within, with an opportunity to take a selfie with the Angel Falls – the world’s tallest uninterrupted waterfall – as a backdrop.

Under the title ‘Open to the Future’, the pavilion presents the spectacular folklore, rich heritage and exuberant diversity of flora and fauna from the country’s seven differentiated ecosystems, showcasing the rich and abundant natural resources, commodities, and various business opportunities that Venezuela has to offer.

National and Honour Days at Expo 2020 are moments to celebrate each of Expo’s 200-plus International Participants, shining a light on their culture and achievements and showcasing their pavilions and programming. Each features a flag-raising ceremony at the Stage of Nations in Al Wasl Plaza, followed by speeches and cultural performances.

Running until 31 March 2022, Expo 2020 invites visitors from across the planet to join the making of a new world in a six-month celebration of human creativity, innovation, progress and culture.

 

Source: Emirates News Agency

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Colombia’s Matchmaking Forum explores opportunities for strong business investments at Expo 2020 Dubai

DUBAI, Colombia is organising a five-day event at Expo 2020 Dubai as part of the leading commercial initiatives of ProColombia- the entity in charge of promoting international tourism, foreign direct investment, non-traditional exports and the Country Brand of Colombia.

Dubbed Matchmaking Forum, the event supports Expo 2020’s goal of fostering partnerships, catalysing innovation, and discovering opportunities for strong business and trade investments.

Serving as an ideal gateway to investment possibilities in a variety of sectors, the Matchmaking Forum, hosted by ProColombia, is taking place from November 7 to 11, 2021, as part of the Expo 2020 activities. Around 3,400 business meetings are convening between 200 Colombian business representatives and 125 buyers from 20 countries across Europe, Asia, Africa, and America, with the goal of showcasing Colombia’s products and services and fostering global corporations.

The event aims to pave the way for companies and investors to explore business partnerships in agribusiness, manufacturing, industry 4.0, apparel and chemical supply chains.

Companies from various sectors will be represented in each of the industries, such as oils and fats, beverages, and meat etc. in agribusiness; construction materials, home furnishings, and design etc. in manufacturing industry; software, IT services etc. in industry 4.0; clothing and footwear etc. in apparel and personal care products, pharmaceuticals etc. in the chemical supply chain industry.

 

Source: Emirates News Agency

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Nearly 3 million visits to Expo 2020 Dubai since opening

DUBAI, Expo 2020 Dubai has recorded 2,942,388 visits since its opening on 1st October. The visitor numbers included over 100,000 schoolchildren, with Expo set to further stimulate young minds during the forthcoming Knowledge and Learning Week from 12th-18th December.

In the past week, Expo 2020 Dubai marked the UAE Flag Day, which saw His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, raising the national flag; Organisation of Islamic Cooperation Honour Day (OIC); and the Expo 2020 National Days of Antigua and Barbuda, Indonesia, Colombia, and the Netherlands, which included a visit from Dutch royalty King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima.

Countless star acts have added their names to the awe-inspiring roll call of performers to date at Expo 2020 – among the big-name guests gracing Expo stages was Riverdance, the world-famous Irish dance sensation. The group’s shows at Expo will run throughout November.

Expo’s Diwali celebrations featured a strong entertainment line-up, with the Hindu festival celebrated by acts such as India’s Salim and Sulaiman Merchant, and Bollywood playback singer Vipul Mehta. Late Nights @ Expo also hosted a series of music events to commemorate the festival of lights, including a special showcase from Indian rapper Badshah.

Visitors thronged a temporary circuit at Expo 2020 as the world’s best cyclists contested Giro d’Italia Criterium – the first-ever official sporting event to be staged at a World Expo. In a nail-biting finish, Slovakia’s Peter Sagan pipped Colombia’s Egan Bernal to first place.

Urban & Rural Development Week was launched on World Cities Day on 31st October and concluded on 6th November with the announcement that more than 120 of Expo 2020’s permanent buildings have been Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified. The week included a special Women’s World Majlis reimaging what cities and villages would look like had they been designed by women, and the launch of the Last Mile Delivery Roadmap, a blueprint for making informal settlements safe and sustainable.

The line-up of attractions at Expo 2020 shows no signs of slowing down: Nancy Ajram and Ragheb Alama will unite the world through the power of music, at Al Wasl Plaza and broadcast around the world, when they co-headline the second Infinite Nights show on 12th November. On the same day, K-pop concert KITE will welcome acts including Highlight and Punch.

Al Wasl will also play host to the Expo Young Stars programme until the 17th November, which will showcase talented young students from across the UAE.

On 13th November, visitors will be treated to an appearance from one of the best athletes in history, Usain Bolt – an 11-time world champion, eight-time Olympic gold medallist and holder of multiple world records – who will lead a Family Run.

Expo visitors have even more reason to explore the site during the coming month, with the launch of the Explore Expo 2020 Dubai, Explore the World special raffle to win one million Emirates Skywards miles and a host of other prizes rewarding those who visit as many Country Pavilions as possible.

Bringing Expo 2020 Dubai to a global digital audience, the number of virtual visits has amounted to 14.8 million since 1st October.

 

Source: Emirates News Agency

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Reach’s 50-Day Initiative hits halfway milestone with enough funds raised to transform three million lives

ABU DHABI, The Reach Campaign has revealed that halfway through its ‘50 Days to Transform 5 Million Lives’ fundraising drive, which was launched with the aim of eliminating two neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), river blindness and lymphatic filariasis, has already raised enough funds to transform the lives of three million people.

As part of the campaign, a number of leading companies and organisations across the UAE have joined forces in an effort to raise money and awareness of the campaign during the 50-day countdown to the UAE’s Golden Jubilee, through an array of activations, promotions and events.

The list of partners and participating brands includes founding partners Lulu Group International, which is running a special multi-brand fundraising promotion across all its UAE stores; ADNOC, which has created opportunities with their rewards application as well as an internal employee campaign to raise funds; and Etihad Airways which will give customers the opportunity to support the campaign through their guest miles donations. Marketing partners include ADCB, which will be driving microdonations through its ATM network, with Rivoli Group’s Watches & Vision Care divisions supporting through special initiatives across their stores UAE.

Other partners that have committed to the campaign include Dubai Cares, one of the campaign’s strategic partners, which has pledged to donate AED50,000 to Reach. The organisation is inviting members of the public to contribute to the life-changing initiative by visiting its fundraising platform, which will accept donations for the next 25 days. ADSC which will contribute through donating a percentage from each runner’s entry fee to the 2021 ADNOC Abu Dhabi Marathon and 11 independent coffee shops, including BRDG, DRVN, Dialogue, H’s Coffee, Kava and Chai, Morsel, Notes, Pentagon, Shot, Coffee Architecture, and Ten11 will continue their instore promotions until the end of the campaign.

All proceeds from the 50-day campaign will benefit the Reaching the Last Mile Fund (RLMF), which offers a proof of concept for the elimination of the two diseases in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Providing real impact, the money has helped more than 800 million people across seven countries to date, including people like Kasech Fantu, who lives in Sankora, Ethiopia with her two children and suffers from an advanced stage of lymphatic filariasis (LF) that causes severe mobility issues. There are times when her legs are too swollen and painful, so she stays at home in bed. This limits her earning potential and worsens a vicious cycle of poverty.

Helping those affected by NTDs like Kasech, RLMF is a 10-year, US$100 million initiative launched in 2017 by His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, with support from several organisations including The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and The ELMA Philanthropies. The Fund is hosted by the END Fund – the leading philanthropic vehicle dedicated to ending NTDs.

RLMF delivers preventative treatment for NTDs and focuses on ways to accelerate progress towards elimination – from investing in disease mapping efforts, to supporting advanced lab facilities and cross-border collaborations. The 50-day campaign aims to raise funds to support these activities and ultimately help protect at least five million people from river blindness and lymphatic filariasis.

Tala Al Ramahi, Acting Managing Director for The Reach Campaign, said, “We are humbled by the level of support this vital initiative has received from various platforms across our community. Our partners and participating brands have demonstrated once again the true values that have guided our Nation in extending a hand to people in need, whether they are our next door neighbours or further afield.”

 

Source: Emirates News Agency

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CBUAE, Bank Indonesia to promote cooperation in payment systems, digital financial innovation

ABU DHABI, The Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) and the Central Bank of the Republic of Indonesia (Bank Indonesia) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)to boost mutual co-operation.

The bilateral MoU includes three main areas, covering digital innovation in payment and financial services to facilitate more efficient and secure transactions, cross-border payment systems including retail payments, and frameworks of anti-money laundering and combatting the financing of terrorism.

The MoU focused on enhancing bilateral cooperation in the areas of payment systems and digital financial innovation, including conventional and Islamic finance based on trust, mutual understanding and the principle of reciprocity. It supports joint initiatives to examine cross-border payment systems and encourages the development of new FinTech companies and structures in both countries.

Khaled Mohamed Balama, Governor of the CBUAE and Perry Warjiyo, Governor of Bank Indonesia signed the MoU, the exchange of which was in the presence of His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and Joko Widodo, President of the Republic of Indonesia.

The CBUAE and Bank Indonesia will also exchange relevant information and views on issues of concern or common interest under the MoU, based on applicable laws and regulations in each jurisdiction and other considerations that may be relevant.

Balama said, “The signing of this MoU with our esteemed central bank counterparts in Indonesia reflects the CBUAE’s strategy of developing the most efficient payment systems, and working with partners to enforce global regulations to enhance confidence in the UAE financial market. It also demonstrates the clear objective of bringing together like minds to find new financial solutions and to strengthen the joint efforts against illicit financial activity.”

Perry Warjiyo emphasised that the MoU expedites and broadens Bank Indonesia’s cooperation with strategic stakeholders in key areas. The MoU also demonstrates Bank Indonesia’s support for government efforts as a member of the Financial Action Task Force on Money Laundering (FATF) and Bank Indonesia’s commitment to combat money laundering and terrorism financing, while fulfilling the FATF recommendations and guidelines.

 

Source: Emirates News Agency

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Expo 2020 Dubai is a leading global platform to enhance international cooperation: Ambassador of Dominica

ABU DHABI, Hubert Charles, Ambassador of the Commonwealth of Dominica to the UAE, has stressed that the UAE and Dominica have strong and distinguished relations at various levels.

In a statement to the Emirates News Agency (WAM), Charles said that the UAE has a unique vision for the future and a pioneering system for planning and innovation that contributes to achieving comprehensive and sustainable development, noting that many countries are looking forward to benefiting from the UAE’s vision.

The Ambassador added that Expo 2020 Dubai provides his country with a leading global platform to enhance international cooperation, develop areas of partnership, and search for promising opportunities for development and prosperity across various sectors.

Charles indicated that his country is looking forward to building on the distinguished relations with the UAE in order to enhance joint cooperation in many fields.

He stressed that there are promising opportunities for cooperation between the two countries in many fields, and Expo 2020 Dubai provided a platform to inform the world about the opportunities available in Dominica and to work on joint cooperation to achieve development and prosperity.

 

Source: Emirates News Agency