New Delhi, July 26 (KNN) Union Minister of Commerce & Industry and Railways, Piyush Goyal reviewed the preparations underway for the construction of the Indian Pavilion at the Dubai World Expo 2020 which will take place for six months beginning 20th October 2020 up to 10th April 2021.

The meeting was held in New Delhi where officials of the Department of Commerce, Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), National Buildings Construction Corporation Ltd. (NBCC) and other stakeholders were present.

The theme of the Expo is ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’ with three sub themes – Opportunity, Mobility and Sustainability – to generate sustainable solutions to global problems, demand and collaboration areas across cultures, countries and regions.

More than 25 million visitors are expected and 180 countries will be represented at the Expo.

The India Pavilion will be a permanent structure being constructed in the ‘Opportunity’ segment. The building will embody India’s worship of nature and will be environment friendly.

Also, it will showcase the 150th Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi being celebrated this year.

Twenty-seven focus sectors have been identified to showcase India’s advances in space, pharmaceuticals, information technology, renewable energy and telecom sectors and also India’s strength in innovation and start-ups.

NBCC has bagged the Rs. 400 crore projects to build the Pavilion at Dubai World Expo 2020. The Pavilion will have stalls displaying Indian handlooms, showcasing India’s entertainment industry, the hospitality and tourism sector, India’s gem and jewellery sector.

Minister urged the members who were the part of the meeting to think creatively keeping the Indian ethos in mind and explore all avenues to make the best of this opportunity provided by the Dubai World Expo.

He said that India’s participation in the Expo may be a memorable and befitting one.

Although the Expo ends after 6 months, the India Pavilion must continue to function as a showcase in Dubai which is visited by 17 million tourists in a year and India must explore all avenues to make the best use of the India Pavilion, permanently, he added.

India and World Expo 2020 signed participant’s contract on 10th April 2018 for India’s pavilion in the prestigious World Expo held once in five years. The contract provided for the setting up of India Pavilion on an extra-large plot (about one acre).

This is in tune with the opportunity for economic activity that India provides on its path to becoming a USD five trillion economy by 2025. FICCI has been tasked with helping the Government of India to prepare for Indian presence at the Expo.

The Pavilion is being developed in Public Private Partnership mode. Leading industries and businesses are working with the Central Government and State Governments for participation in India Pavilion.