U.S. Department of State Announces Big Things Group as Official Partner for the U.S. Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai

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The U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council celebrates another milestone for Expo 2020 Dubai with the official announcement by The U.S. Department of State’s Expo Unit that it intends to work with the Big Things Group as its partner for the U.S. pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai.  Current design plans, based on the theme “What Moves You,” are for a U.S. pavilion that showcases the best of American culture, technology, and values, particularly in the field of mobility.

The Business Council is proud to have championed Expo 2020 Dubai ever since Dubai first announced its intention to bid for Expo 2020 in 2011. The Business Council, its Board of Directors, and its member companies were vocal supporters of this bid, working tirelessly to build awareness and garner support for the World Expo to be hosted in Dubai. In November of 2013, the Bureau International des Expositions general assembly in Paris awarded Dubai as the 2020 host.

Following this announcement, the Business Council became Chair of the Expo 2020 U.S. Standing Committee, which interfaced with U.S. and U.A.E. government authorities on Expo 2020 and advocated for opportunities and partnerships between American and Emirati entities hoping to participate in the Expo. The Business Council helped disseminate timely information about Expo 2020 Dubai and associated commercial opportunities as well as created meaningful engagement opportunities between businesses and Expo leadership in the U.A.E.

At the same time, the Business Council has helped raise awareness of Expo 2020 and associated commercial opportunities in the United States by hosting a series of Expo 2020 roadshows. In early 2017, the Business Council hosted a seminar for Expo 2020 leadership in New York. Later that year, it held three more seminars for Expo 2020 leadership in San Francisco, Palo Alto, and Los Angeles.

In addition to its collaboration with Expo 2020 leadership, the Business Council has worked closely with the U.S. government across two separate Administrations to support the establishment of a U.S. Pavilion at Expo 2020. In October of 2017, the U.S. Secretary of State formally signaled the U.S. government’s intent to participate at Expo 2020 Dubai. By law, the U.S. Department of State is not permitted to use public funds for international expositions. A process therefore was undertaken to identify a suitable non-U.S. government partner whose responsibility will be to establish a U.S. pavilion and manage its operation.

In February 2018, the U.S. Department of State announced a Request for Proposal in the Federal Register for fundraising, project management, design, construction, and operation of a U.S. Pavilion at Expo 2020. In close coordination with the Business Council and Expo 2020 Dubai, the State Department’s Expo Unit subsequently held a series of virtual and in-person information sessions over a two month period which ended in April 2018 to highlight a range of opportunities for business and community leaders to participate in and support the U.S. Pavilion.

Today, the Business Council looks forward to a new chapter of its participation in Expo 2020 now that the U.S. Department of State’s Expo Unit has officially selected a partner for the U.S. Pavilion. In the coming months, the Business Council will continue to coordinate with the Expo Unit and the Big Things Group to assist in the fundraising and implementation of the U.S. Pavilion.

Expo 2020 will organize and be held in Dubai around the theme of “Connecting Minds, Creating the Future.”  Expo 2020 intends to highlight the U.A.E.’s national Golden Jubilee by underscoring the country’s leading role as a global hub for commerce, culture, and diplomacy in the 21st century.

Please see below for the U.S. Department of State’s official press release.

 


Big Things Group Selected as Partner for U.S. Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai

The U.S. Department of State is pleased to announce its intent to work with the Big Things Group as its partner for the U.S. pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).  Current design plans, based on the theme “What Moves You,” are for a U.S. pavilion that showcases the best of American culture, technology, and values, particularly in the field of mobility.

On February 16, the Department published a Request for Proposal in the Federal Register (#2018-03116), for the fundraising, project management, design, construction, operation, and disassembly and removal of a USA Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai.  In March, the Department, in partnership with the U.A.E. Mission to the United States, organized a series of virtual and in-person events across the country to raise awareness of Expo 2020 Dubai and opportunities to participate in and support the U.S. pavilion.  The Department was fortunate to receive a record number of proposals – in terms of quality and quantity – the most ever since the United States moved to a public-private partnership model in the early 1990s.

The Department looks forward to working over the next several years with the Big Things Group and its creative, commercial, and cultural partners to create an inspiring and informative U.S. pavilion that conveys American leadership in commerce and culture in the field of mobility.  Together, we will engage our companies, cultural organizations, and citizens to create the U.S. pavilion at what will be one of the world’s biggest events in 2020.  Once sufficient funds have been raised, then the Department will sign a final participation contract with the Expo 2020 organizers confirming the United States’ participation.

Expo 2020 Dubai, which will take place October 20, 2020 – April 10, 2021 and coincide with the UAE’s 50th founding anniversary, will be the first Expo (also known as a World’s Fair) to take place in the Middle East, North Africa, or South Asia.  It is expected to attract 25 million visitors from the region and around the world.  The theme of Expo 2020 Dubai is Connecting Minds, Creating the Future, representing the potential of what can be achieved when meaningful collaborations and partnerships are forged.

For further information visit the Department’s Expo Unit site (https://www.state.gov/r/expo/), where you can also subscribe to a listserv for updates on the project.  For more information on Expo 2020 Dubai visit https://expo2020dubai.ae/