France supports decision to postpone Dubai Expo to next year

Paris - France's Commissioner General for the event says postponement will give France the opportunity to reinvent its Pavilion to better suit today's global challenge of innovative, eco-friendly and user-oriented mobility solutions.

France's Commissioner General for the Dubai Expo 2020, Erik Linquier, has announced his support for the decision to postpone the event from October 1, 2021 to March 31, 2022 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
This postponement was officially announced by Expo 2020 Dubai officials on Tuesday and is set to be approved by the Bureau International des Expositions' (BIE) on May 29.
The France Pavilion, with the support of Compagnie Française des Expositions (Cofrex), the body in charge of organising France's participation in international and world exhibitions, and its partners, invite visitors to share their renewed ambition in October 2021.
The postponement will give France the opportunity to reinvent its Pavilion to better suit today's global challenge of innovative, eco-friendly and user-oriented mobility solutions, Linquier said.
The decision to postpone the event, supported by France and by more than two-third of BIE's Member States, aims to ensure that the millions of visitors expected at Expo can enjoy the event in the best of conditions.
The goal of a World Expo is to raise awareness and work towards solving the greatest challenges we face today. Expo 2020 Dubai's theme of "Connecting Minds, Creating the Future" is now more important than ever. All nations will come together for six months to brainstorm, pitch and implement concrete solutions to serve humankind.
Given the current health crisis, this theme is no longer a suggestion, but a priority.
France will echo this need, using the France Pavilion to convey how French innovation can play a part in reaching that goal.
This international event will give France a platform to showcase its actions and innovations featuring new eco-friendly and user-oriented mobility solutions.
"I recognise this responsible decision, which is the most suitable given the current international health crisis and demonstrates a collective will to keep everyone safe and healthy. Through Cofrex's actions and with the support from our sponsors, France's participation will be even more impactful. This extra year will give us the opportunity to further focus on the programme and experience we want to create for our visitors on the France Pavilion.
"It is also our responsibility to contribute to and support post-crisis efforts to reboot the French economy," said Linquier.
The France Pavilion's sponsors positively welcomed the decision to postpone the event in order to focus on the health and safety of the international community.
They confirmed their support through maintaining their participation in the France Pavilion, and Cofrex would like to thank them for their trust, cooperation and efforts. Cofrex is delighted to keep working with its sponsors to make France's participation in the World Expo a unique experience for its visitors.
The success of France's participation in the World Expo 2020 Dubai will also and above all be measured by the success of the companies involved, economic stakeholders and local French authorities, which will showcase their actions in contributing to the economic rebound we are all working towards.

• Dubai