“As the Ambassador of Georgia to the United Arab Emirates, I would like to take this opportunity to express my satisfaction at the cooperation between Georgia and the United Arab Emirates, which has ensured the participation of our country in this very important world forum. The mentioned cooperation very accurately reflects the friendship that exists today between Georgia and the UAE.”
H.E. Paata Kalandadze
Georgia, along with 191 other countries, is participating in the largest international exhibition of the year, Expo 2020 Dubai, which was postponed last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The main theme of the exhibition is Connecting Minds, Creating the Future, which is divided into the topics Opportunity, Mobility and Sustainability.
Deputy Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development Irakli Nadareishvili attended the opening of the Georgian pavilion, which is located in the Sustainable Development section. According to him, this is a unique opportunity for Georgia to be introduced to the millions of visitors who will visit this grand exhibition over the next six months, allowing them to be able to discover Georgia’s culture, history and, of course, investment environment and the modern opportunities that Georgia offers to world tourism.
At Expo 2020 Dubai, the Georgian pavilion is presented in four parts – winemaking; Georgian script, sustainable tourism, and business opportunities.
Before entering the Georgian pavilion, guests have the opportunity to see a stand of famous Georgians who have been inspiring generations for many years, helping to empower women, and to promote sports, science, education and music. The side façade of the pavilion introduces visitors to the paintings of the world-renowned artist, Niko Pirosmani.
Upon entering the pavilion, visitors have the opportunity to receive the services of an audio guide: to hear brief information about the main spots of the pavilion and in general about the country.
The winery section of the pavilion presents an ancient 6th century B.C. clay wine fermentation pitcher, while the screens on the walls show installations of the history of Georgian wine, grape varieties and stories about traditional Georgian cellars.
In addition, visitors can enjoy Georgian folk music and see unique exhibits including an ancient clay wine pitcher, a mini replica of a UNESCO-protected Svan tower, and a sculpture displaying the Georgian alphabet. Photos and illustrations create a memorable experience, exciting the imagination, while the educational panels on show further enhance the viewers’ sense of connection to Georgia.
The exhibition is to mark National Day on December 29, consisting of an official opening ceremony and a gala concert featuring performances by Georgian polyphonic singers and the Sukhishvili National Ballet.
Also, Georgian Wine and Gastronomy and Georgian Calligraphy Day will be held within the framework of other thematic activities, which will be enriched with theatrical performances. The above events will be held at AL Wasl, Dubai Millennium Amphitheater and Jubilee Park. In addition to the mentioned activities, it is also planned to organize a chess day, where the Georgian chess team will hold a friendly match with the team of the United Arab Emirates.
“Georgia is worthily represented this year at one of the world’s grandest exhibitions, in which participation is a great prestige for each country,” said Natia Turnava, Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development. “Expo guests will have the opportunity to get acquainted with the culture, script, tourism and investment potential of our country in the Georgian pavilion.”
GEORGIA TODAY had the opportunity to talk with the Ambassador of Georgia to the UAE, H.E. Paata Kalandadze, who is very actively involved in the process of promoting Georgia.
“I had the great honor to participate in the opening ceremony of Expo 2020 on behalf of our country, together with the Deputy Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia, Irakli Nadareishvili, who is also the Georgian Commissioner General of Expo 2020. The event was attended by the leaders of the United Arab Emirates, the heads of the diplomatic mission accredited in the country and the Commissars of the participating countries. The Georgian pavilion, as well as the pavilions of other countries, opened on October 1, and will be active for 6 months,” the Ambassador tells us.
“Georgia’s participation in this forum is extremely important, in which a record number of countries, 192, have a chance to present their country’s achievements. The organizers hope that over the next 6 months, Expo 2020 will be visited by about 20 million people from around the world. This is a good indication that it is another unique opportunity for Georgia to further raise awareness of our country,” he says.
“Despite the obstacles caused by the pandemic, the decision of our government, which ensured Georgia’s participation in one of the most visible international forums, is to be welcomed. In this regard, I would like to congratulate all the institutions of our State that were actively involved in the issues of participation in Expo 2020. The unequivocal support of the Head of the Government of our country, Irakli Garibashvili, of our participation should be emphasized. It should also be noted the titanic work done by the special group of the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia, headed by Deputy Minister Irakli Nadareishvili, in a record short time.
“Various events are planned within the framework of Expo 2020 which should present our country even better, such as concerts of the Sukhishvili National Ballet in November, various thematic events that will be carried out in the Georgian pavilion with the participation of internationally renowned Georgians, and the most important ‘Days of Georgia’, during which Expo 2020 will fly the State Flag of Georgia at full-mast in the main square of Expo 2020 in honor of our country. A high-ranking delegation from Georgia is planning to participate in this event,” Ambassador Kalandadze notes.
Expo 2020 opened on October 1 and will last 6 months, up to and including March 31, 2022. The Georgian pavilion is located in the Sustainable Development pavilion and has a total of 213 sq.m. exhibition space allocated. The exhibition is an important platform for presenting and promoting the country.
By Sofia Bochoidze
