Luxembourg, UAE Conclude Partnership Agreements re. Expo 2020 Dubai

Luxembourg's economic mission to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) concluded with a day dedicated to the Grand Duchy's participation in Expo 2020 Dubai, which will take place from 20 October 2020 to 10 April 2021.

At a press conference in Dubai, in the presence of Luxembourg's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Economy, Étienne Schneider, and Minister of Finance, Pierre Gramegna, the commissioner general of Luxembourg at Expo 2020 Dubai, Maggy Nagel, presented the progress of the project.

Étienne Schneider commented: “Expo 2020 Dubai aims to promote innovation and sustainable development. This profile of the exhibition is perfectly in line with Luxembourg's promotional efforts and will showcase many 'Made in Luxembourg' skills".

For his part, Pierre Gramegna said: “The universal exhibition will be an excellent opportunity for Luxembourg to showcase the innovative nature of the Luxembourg financial centre to the international community. In accordance with the motto of the exhibition 'Connecting Minds, Creating the Future', our financial centre contributes to a world that is better connected and better prepared for future challenges by charting the course of sustainable development”.

Luxembourg was the first country to officially confirm its participation in Expo 2020 Dubai which aims to attract more than 25 million visitors, 70% of whom will come from outside the UAE. Having been among the first countries to receive a building permit, work on the Luxembourg pavilion began in August 2019. Indeed, this will be the 24th time Luxembourg participates in a universal exhibition.

At the end of the press conference, Luxembourg and the UAE concluded three partnership agreements in order to allow the Luxembourg pavilion to function properly for the duration of the exhibition. The first agreement was signed between the economic interest group GIE Luxembourg@EXPO 2020 Dubaï with Jumeirah Group for the operation of the restaurant in the Luxembourg pavilion. Cooperation with the renowned international hotel chain provides for the provision of full catering services by Jumeirah at the Luxembourg pavilion for the duration of the exhibition, with the direct involvement of Luxembourg chef Kim Kevin de Doodt and the support of students from the École d'hôtellerie et de tourisme du Luxembourg (EHTL) in Diekirch.

For its part, the EHTL concluded a general partnership agreement with RAK ​​Porcelain Europe based in Luxembourg and which is part of the RAK Ceramics group. RAK Porcelain is one of the six official sponsors of Luxembourg@EXPO 2020 Dubai and exclusive supplier of tableware for the pavilion. The partnership is based on the exchange of knowledge and allows students and members of the teaching staff of the cooking and restaurant service of the EHTL to participate in training cycles on tableware. The partnership was concluded for a period of five years.

Finally, a memorandum of understanding was signed between the EHTL and the Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management (EAHM), a hotel management school based in Dubai and associated with the Swiss Hospitality Management School in Lausanne (EHL). The agreement allows EHTL students and teachers to access the EAHM accommodation facilities for the duration of their stay in Dubai.

In addition, the third and last day of the mission saw His Royal Highness the Hereditary Grand Duke and ministers Étienne Schneider and Pierre Gramegna visit the site of the Luxembourg pavilion at Expo2020 Dubai. They also met with Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and CEO of Emirates Airline & Group and chairman of the Expo 2020 Dubai Higher Committee, and Reem Al Hashimi, Minister of State for International Cooperation and Managing Director for the Dubai World Expo 2020 Bid Committee.