Maggy Nagel and Carlo Thelen were among those presenting the Expo 2020 Dubai programme on Monday at the Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce Chamber of Commerce

Maggy Nagel and Carlo Thelen were among those presenting the Expo 2020 Dubai programme on Monday at the Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce Chamber of Commerce

From 20 October 2020 through 10 April 2021, the “Connecting Minds, Creating the Future”-themed expo in Dubai is expected to attract 25m visitors, 70% from abroad, providing a unique platform for businesses wanting to expand or network internationally, as the Chamber’s director general Carlo Thelen pointed out during a Monday press conference. 

The grand duchy will have a 2,770m2 pavilion and focus on “Resourceful Luxembourg”. While Luxembourg’s strategy in Shanghai 2010 focused more on the local market, the Dubai approach aims to access regional and global markets. The UAE represents an “extremely dynamic market”, according to Cindy Tereba, director of international affairs, who herself spent around four years in Abu Dhabi prior to joining the Chamber. Despite the UAE’s dependence on natural resources in the past, given that it has the world’s 7th largest oil reserve, it has undergone diversification in recent years--in tourism, construction, logistics to name a few--which has resulted in unforeseen population growth to bring it to over 9.6m today.

Maggy Nagel, the EIG general commission and former culture minister, provided an update on the pavilion currently under construction. A timelapse video is expected to be available online in the coming weeks. Nagel added that the first agreement had been formalised a few weeks ago with the “Ecole d’hôtellerie et de tourisme du Luxembourg”, and 36 students from the school will be in Dubai to present Luxembourg’s gastronomy at the expo.

6 missions and more

Among the events being organised is a multisectorial mission from 26-30 January 2020. The delegation, presided by the Hereditary Grand Duke, will be led by vice-prime minister and economy minister Etienne Schneider (LSAP). Also expected to participate are vice-PM and mobility minister François Bausch (déi Gréng) and finance minister Pierre Gramegna (DP). The mission will specifically focus on the health sector, logistics and startups. But those interested in participating will need to move fast: the registration deadline is 22 November 2019. 

The multi-sectorial mission is set to take place on the heels of the official Luxembourg day on 23 January 2021--coincidentally the birthday of former Luxembourg Grand Duchess Charlotte--and the international B2B matchmaking fair on 20-22 January. 

Other missions in the making are devoted to space (12-16 October 2020), infrastructure & construction (23-26 November 2020), ecotechnologies (16-21 January 2021), healthtech (24-27 January 2021), and food and horeca (20-28 February 2021). 

Additionally, from 1-7 November 2020, a “Made in Luxembourg” week will showcase the country’s know-how. 

For more information or to register, visit cc2020.lu