DUBA – Côte d’Ivoire celebrated its National Day at Expo 2020 Dubai in style on Friday, with Her Excellency Reem Al Hashimy, UAE Minister of International Cooperation and Director General of Expo 2020 Dubai welcoming a delegation led by Prime Minister Patrick Achi that included football legend Didier Drogba.
Prime Minister Patrick Achi said: “I am delighted to be at Expo 2020 Dubai with my delegation. I believe this is an occasion to celebrate the bright, shining future in store for Côte d’Ivoire and the UAE. Being at Expo 2020 Dubai is a unique experience. Not everybody can go to all the countries in the world. But by coming to Expo, everyone can tour the world in a single place. There is so much to see: history, culture, technology, trade and development.”
Najeeb Mohammed Al Ali, Executive Director Expo 2020 Dubai, said: “As a country that is committed to progress and development through the industrialisation of its agricultural sector and leveraging smart technology to ensure a higher quality of life for its people, we firmly believe that Côte d’Ivoire’s participation at this Expo will provide this friendly nation with the platform to showcase what it has to offer to the world.”
“With Expo 2020, we hope to build on existing partnerships between our two countries. With Côte d’Ivoire continuing to be an expanding trading partner, we hope to build synergies across various fronts, as we work towards strengthening our bonds.”
Didier Drogba, recently appointed as the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Goodwill Ambassador for Sport and Health, later visited the Côte d’Ivoire Pavilion for a series of cultural performances.
Drogba said: “I am very happy to be here with the official delegation, it is a matter of great pride for me. We are here to show the world what Côte d’Ivoire has to offer. This is where I come from, and this is our country. We want the world to see the culture and progress that our country has achieved.”
A lively performance by Magic System, the renowned Ivorian group, generated huge excitement with their unique brand of music. Magic System’s recordings, in the Zouglou dance style, have featured in the charts throughout Africa, the Caribbean and France.
Addressing a media briefing at Expo 2020, Her Excellency Kandia Camara, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Côte d’Ivoire, said: “Expo 2020 Dubai is an exceptional event for showcasing our country. We are rich in agriculture and mines, and one of the top producers of cocoa in the world. We have a vision to transform the Ivorian economy. As Dubai is a business hub, it represents an ideal platform for sharing our offering with the world. We have already opened our embassy in Abu Dhabi and we believe this will boost bilateral relations and investments.”
Located in the Mobility District, the Côte d’Ivoire Pavilion takes visitors into the heart of Francophone culture in West Africa. As the world’s largest producer and exporter of cocoa beans, the country is also a significant producer and exporter of coffee and palm oil.
The pavilion is inspired by the country’s long, illustrious history of telling stories through film. Visitors are transported to a movie set that highlights the latest development activities within the agricultural sector, the country’s evolving high-tech and start-up scene, as well as its rich cultural heritage.
Running until 31 March 2022, Expo 2020 has invited visitors from across the planet to join the making of a new world in a six-month celebration of human creativity, innovation, progress and culture.
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