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NAFL2nd ISSUE Final 27 December 2016

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EXPO 2020<br />

Dubai reveals further details of legacy plan<br />

The government's ambitious plans include transformation of the Expo's 4.38 sq km site into an<br />

ecosystem that connects businesses in the transport and logistics, travel and tourism, real<br />

estate and education sectors, in a bid to create a thriving knowledge-based economy<br />

NAFL REVIEW Feature | 16 |<br />

T<br />

he site for Expo 2020 will be<br />

transformed into an ecosystem<br />

to encourage the growth of the<br />

U A E ' s k n o w l e d g e - b a s e d<br />

economy, according to plans unveiled during<br />

the recent Cityscape Global in Dubai, UAE.<br />

In a keynote speech, Marjan Faraidooni, Expo<br />

2020's Vice President of Legacy, set out<br />

ambitious plans to transform the Expo's 4.38<br />

sq km site into an ecosystem that connects<br />

businesses in the transport and logistics,<br />

travel and tourism, real estate and education<br />

sectors, in a bid to create a thriving<br />

knowledge-based economy that contributes<br />

to a diversified future for the UAE.<br />

Faraidooni outlined the intentions for the<br />

Expo, noting, "Our legacy plans are wide<br />

ranging and ambitious. Our Expo will<br />

continue to foster innovation, and to create<br />

meaningful partnerships that will live beyond<br />

2020 - not only for the UAE, but for the region<br />

as a whole," she said.<br />

Ms. Faraidooni added that plans call for Expo<br />

2020 Dubai to target its investment to deliver<br />

a long lasting legacy from the Expo site. "We<br />

have spent the past year working on<br />

developing our master plan, specifically to<br />

create a platform for the future. Over 80 per<br />

cent of our investments will be retained<br />

following the event. This includes the<br />

infrastructure, as well as the cutting edge<br />

technologies, and the roads and public<br />

transport systems put in place to host the<br />

Expo. We intend to build on those physical<br />

and virtual platforms to create an ecosystem<br />

that lives through the legacy.”<br />

'Connecting Minds, Creating the Future'<br />

Expo 2020 Dubai's theme is 'Connecting<br />

Minds, Creating the Future'. The theme<br />

represents the belief that progress happens<br />

when people and ideas come together in new<br />

ways. And this theme celebrates the power of<br />

ideas, from anyone, to improve the lives of<br />

everyone. This is the guiding principle that<br />

lies behind all of Expo 2020's activities.<br />

Expo's ecosystem strategy uses physical<br />

proximity and an enabling environment to<br />

create competitive advantages; most<br />

importantly being the access to leading edge<br />

skills and capabilities. Expo officials believe<br />

that the merging of industries with related<br />

technologies will create a centre of<br />

excellence that draws in other related<br />

companies, enabling wider collaborations<br />

and innovations.<br />

Additionally, Expo's legacy<br />

planners have identified four high<br />

priority strategic industries:<br />

education, transport and logistics,<br />

travel and tourism, and real<br />

estate. These sectors form the<br />

backbone of the current UAE<br />

economy, and are industries that<br />

have a major role to play in the<br />

nation's ongoing economic<br />

diversification.<br />

As part of the legacy plan, Expo has explored<br />

how technologies, including augmented<br />

reality, big data and the internet of things,<br />

could transform these industries. Expo has<br />

also identified education and cultural<br />

initiatives to complement the ecosystem<br />

envisaged by Expo organizers.<br />

Over AED5B to be allocated to SMEs<br />

Furthermore, Expo 2020 Dubai has

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