PARIS, FRANCE – A high-level Saudi delegation attended the Riyadh Expo 2030 Symposium, on the outskirts here, hosted by the Royal Commission for Riyadh City, responsible for the Kingdom’s bid to host the World Expo in 2030.
The event took place in Meudon on Monday in the presence of representatives from member countries of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE), prominent French officials, representatives from leading global organizations, and from diplomatic missions accredited in France.
BIE Secretary General Dimitri Kerkentzes confirmed that the main theme of Riyadh Expo 2030, “The Era of Change: Together for a Foresighted Tomorrow,” was considered a call for concerted action and an appeal to develop a blueprint for a different tomorrow.
He emphasized dealing effectively with challenges and prospects emerging from the era of change the planet was experiencing.
Kerkentzes said, “As 2030 approaches and efforts to achieve the sustainable development goals grow in urgency, broad global consensus will be required in moving the world’s agenda forward and in defining the ambition and the scope of the post-2030 era.”
He said, “Riyadh, a city at a crossroads of local, regional and global changes, is positioning itself to welcome the world by proposing an event that would look resolutely towards the future, with foresight at the front and center of discussions.”
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Member of Cabinet, and Envoy for Climate Affairs Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir said, “The Kingdom has committed $353 million to provide support to over 100 countries that qualify in order to be able to exhibit in Saudi Arabia.”
He said, “We also have commitments from our private sector and NGOs to provide further assistance to countries that need that. This reflects the Kingdom’s commitment to providing an exceptional and unprecedented Expo.”
Vice Minister of Tourism Princess Haifa Al Saud said, “In Saudi Arabia, we take our national goals seriously, and we translate them as our international commitments. As we believe in prosperity for all nations, everything the Kingdom is developing aims to not only have a national impact, but a global one as well.”
She said, “Riyadh Expo 2030 will be a global platform for collaboration that will deliver concrete, tangible outcomes. It will be an Expo built by the world, for the world. Our Collaborative Change Corner, our Expo C3 initiative, will finance, incubate, scale, and support over 27 projects and initiatives from countries across the world. So we will not wait until Expo 2030 to start delivering. We will start delivering from today.”
Princess Haifa said that the choice of the Kingdom and Riyadh is a choice for the world.
Diriyah Gate Development Authority Group CEO Jerry Inzerillo said, “When I was invited to participate six years ago in Vision 2030, I said, you know I have to be part of this. It is so exciting, it is so dynamic, and in just a few short years, we’ve managed to take a concept and make it a reality.”
He said, “We’re building the expo by the world, for the world. We will have 70,000 new hotel rooms in Riyadh for the Expo, connected by only one metro station from the new King Salman International Airport.”
He added, “We have a young, fired-up staff, my particular staff, 85 percent Saudis, 39 percent Saudi women, 16 percent of those Saudi women in leadership positions, all fired up about their great future.”
As a member of the RCRC Technical Team for Riyadh Expo 2030, Architect Lamia Al Muhanna explained the vision of Riyadh Expo 2030.
Al Muhanna said, “Under the ‘One Nation, One Pavilion’ commitment, you will have the opportunity to develop a state-of-the-art pavilion that showcases your unique cultures, ambitions, and contributions”.
Architect Nouf Al Moneef, another member of the RCRC Riyadh Expo 2030 Technical Team Riyadh, stated: “Riyadh Expo 2030 will be built by the world, for the world, providing an opportunity for local and international companies alike to participate in its construction.”
He said, “In the event of the Kingdom winning the hosting, we have committed to building the Expo well ahead of schedule, with pavilion parcels and a world-class participant village ready by February 2028. To ensure you can take full advantage of this early start, we will facilitate a seamless import of materials for constructing and operating the pavilions.”
He added, “We will guarantee that your teams and families are provided no-hassle visas, diverse housing options, and excellent banking, healthcare, and education services.”
The symposium serves as the final stop in the Kingdom’s journey of its candidacy bid to host the World Expo in 2030.
The final voting process for the host country will take place during a secret ballot on November 28, 2023, at the 173rd General Assembly of the BIE, in the presence of representatives from its member countries.
The Kingdom is competing alongside the Korean city of Busan and the Italian city of Rome.