Al Shindagah

22 | Al Shindagah | Issue 137 AHG NEWS Her Excellency Reem Al-Hashimi, UAE Minister of State and Managing Director for the Dubai World Expo 2020 Bid Committee, called in on Khalaf Al Habtoor, Founding Chairman, Al Habtoor Group at the Al Habtoor Group head office on Thursday 24 August 2017. Her Excellency briefed Al Habtoor on the progress made for the Dubai Expo 2020 and discussed plans for the land that will be used for the World Expo following the event. The Expo site, which covers 438 hectares, is located within the Dubai South District, near Al Maktoum International Airport. The minister said it was important for the government to ensure that the development is sustainable after the six-month-long exhibition, which will revolve around trade and innovation. Al-Hashimi is meeting with prominent people in the UAE to discuss plans for the site post-event. The government has invested billions of dirhams ahead of the 2020 World Khalaf Al Habtoor welcomed His Excellency Francisco Chaçon Hernández, Ambassador, Embassy of the Republic of Costa Rica in the United Arab Emirates to his office. HE Hernández, who is Costa Rica’s first envoy in the UAE, is meeting with key businesses throughout the Emirates in an effort to strengthen ties between Costa Rica and the UAE. “Costa Rica has a strong friendship with the UAE and we would like to build on that and explore potential business and investment opportunities,” he said. The Ambassador briefed Al Habtoor on the key sectors of the Costa Rican economy; namely renewable energy, HE Reem Al-Hashimi discusses Expo 2020 Costa Rica’s 1st ambassador visits Al Habtoor eco-tourism, medical supplies, and computer chips as well as agriculture. Al Habtoor said he was encouraged that the Ambassador was speaking to UAE businesses to gain an understanding of the region and the culture. “It is the most important role of any ambassador,” he said. “It is the only way to find out how the UAE and Costa Rica can benefit. This is the key to a strong investment climate and a strong economy.” The Ambassador, who is based in Abu Dhabi, was accompanied by Patricia Hajali, Economic Diplomacy Affairs, and Ana Iris Sánchez Rodríguez, First Secretary, Economic and Public Diplomacy Affairs, Embassy of Costa Rica in the United Arab Emirates. Expo, which is expected to draw in between 25-30 million visitors between October 2020 and April 2021, according to official statistics. Al Habtoor said he was confident of Dubai’s success in hosting the event. “Many sectors of our economy will benefit from hosting the Dubai Expo. It will also showcase our ability as a country to host an event of this scale. It is a bonus for our robust and stably growing economy.”