Portugal Pavilion ready for the inauguration of Expo 2020 Dubai

 

The Portugal Pavilion is officially ready for the opening of Expo 2020 Dubai on October 1st. The handover ceremony took place last Sunday, September 19, at 5:30 pm, at the Expo site, in Dubai.

 

The event was marked by brief speeches given by Portugal’s Secretary of State for Internationalization, Eurico Brilhante Dias; the Deputy Commissioner-General of Portugal for Expo 2020 Dubai and AICEP Director, Francisca Guedes de Oliveira; and by the Director of Grupo Casais, Paulo Carapuça. It was also attended by Raquel Monja, Senior Country Manager, International Participants for Expo 2020 Dubai.

 

The central theme of the Portuguese participation, “Portugal, a World in One Country”, is symbolically evident in the work of the pavilion, the result of a partnership between Grupo Casais and Saraiva+Associados. The Caravel as an iconic symbol of Portugal’s connection with the World and its contribution to the strengthening of global relations between civilizations, and the Square, decorated with traditional Portuguese pavement, known as “Calçada Portuguesa”, open to all visitors, as the epitome of a meeting space and sharing between people and cultures.

 

“The Home of Portugal is ready for the next phase: welcoming visitors from all over the world, showcasing Portugal as a modern, tolerant and innovative country. We want our visitors to discover and appreciate the Portugal brand and to help expand this concept of a world in one country”, stressed Eurico Brilhante Dias, Portugal’s Secretary of State for Internationalization.

 

For Deputy Commissioner-General of Portugal for Expo, Francisca Guedes de Oliveira, “the work of the Portugal Pavilion sublimely represents the Portuguese participation in Expo 2020 Dubai. The talent of Architect Miguel Saraiva and the Casais group clearly demonstrates the Portuguese talent that is today, as it was 500 years ago, one of the country’s greatest competitive advantages.”

 

Located in Expo’s Sustainability district, the Pavilion spans 1,800 square meters, spread over three floors. On the ground floor there is an informal event space, the Portugal Concept Store, featuring products from more than 40 Portuguese companies, a cafeteria and a protocol area that welcomes VIP delegates and economic diplomacy. The first floor contains the exhibition path, with an immersive multimedia show and an interactive experience inspired by three thematic areas: ‘Diversity’, ‘Sustainability’ and ‘Opportunity’. On the second-floor visitors will find the Al-Lusitano restaurant, run by Luso-Argentinian chef Chakall, with a terrace facing Jubillee Park, and a multipurpose area that will take on various configurations.

 

The choice of materials for each space reflects Portuguese identity and tradition, namely cork, transformed into furniture and outdoor seating areas, the Portuguese pavement for outdoor public spaces and the traditional hand-painted tiles, or simply ‘Azulejo’.

 

Set to launch on October 1st, Expo 2020 Dubai will host 192 countries and will be the first World Expo to take place in the Middle East. Portuguese participation will contribute to strengthening political, economic, and cultural ties between Portugal, the United Arab Emirates, and other countries in the region.