As part of the UAE’s ongoing campaign to generate public-sector support for the country’s bid to host the 2020 World Expo in Dubai, staff from Dubai Customs participated this week in an interactive workshop organised by the Expo 2020 bid team.
Around 70 Dubai Customs staff attended the workshop, which follows similar Expo 2020 briefing sessions for Government entities in recent weeks, including the Dubai Land Department, Dubai Police and the Roads & Transport Authority.
During the briefing with Dubai Customs, a government entity that facilitates free trade in Dubai and helps secure the emirate’s borders, the bid team shared insights into why the UAE is ideally placed to welcome the world in 2020, and how the event will boost trade and benefit the country. Attendees also learned how they can take part in this ongoing awareness campaign by including the official Expo 2020 logo on the Dubai Customs website, presentations, stationary and email signatures, and by sharing relevant news and information with colleagues.
Yousif Al Sahlawi, Dubai Customs’ Senior Executive Director of Corporate Affairs, said that the department is dedicated to supporting the country’s bid to host the world in 2020.
“World Expos are a platform for the world to connect, share knowledge and introduce innovations that truly change the world,” he said. “The UAE today is an ideal place to welcome the world, with our strategic position as a key global hub, our seamless infrastructure and our history of hosting some of the world’s largest and most prestigious events. Dubai Customs plays a vital role in facilitating the emirate’s continued growth, and we look forward to extending our full support to this important nationwide campaign.”
Dubai, UAE, is competing against four other candidate cities bidding to host the 2020 World Expo, including Ayutthaya (Thailand); Ekaterinburg (Russia); Izmir (Turkey); and Sao Paulo (Brazil).
The winning city will be announced in November 2013 following a vote by the 161 member nations of the Bureau International des Expositions – the international organisation responsible for overseeing the bidding, selection and organisation of World Expos.