By KYIV. Nov 23 (Interfax-Ukraine) – Ukraine, despite the war, keeps plans to host EXPO-2030 in Odesa, and held the first meeting of the Coordinating Committee to submit an application in 2023 and will present its application next week, First Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Economy Yulia Svyrydenko has said.
"The World EXPO is an event that is extremely positive for the image of the host country and gives a powerful economic effect. Therefore, we must make every effort to adequately present the Ukrainian bid next week… In 2030, the EXPO should be in Odesa," she was quoted by the Ministry of Economy from a meeting in Ukraine.
Svyrydenko said that in Ukraine next year it is necessary to carry out the necessary preparatory work and win the selection.
The Ministry of Economy reported that at the first meeting, the committee made several decisions on developing a strategy of promotion and advocacy of the Ukrainian bid at the international level and among Ukrainian diasporas; and the format for determining ambassadors to promote Ukraine as a candidate country for EXPO-2030.
In addition, the possibility of attracting donors, sponsors and patrons abroad to finance activities related to preparation and participation of Ukraine in the selection of the candidate country is being worked out.
The ministry said that the next meeting of the Coordinating Committee will be held in December.
The World EXPO takes place every five years and has been held for 170 years.
Ukraine submitted an application to the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) to host EXPO-2030 in Odesa on October 15, 2021. Cabinet Resolution No. 947 created the Coordinating Committee, which is headed by the First Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Economy of Ukraine.
In February-April 2023, the Enquiry Mission of the BIE will take place in Kyiv and Odesa. Its representatives will study the motivation of Ukraine. In Odesa they will directly get acquainted with the city that claims to host the exhibition. The decision that will determine the winner will be taken at the 173rd BIE General Assembly in November 2023.
Together with Odesa, Rome (Italy), Riyadh (Saudi Arabia) and Busan (Republic of Korea) compete for the right to host EXPO-2030.
As the Ministry of Economy said, exhibitions can be held in one region of the world no more than once every 15 years. This significantly strengthens Ukraine’s position among competitors, as in 2015 the exhibition was held in Italy (Milan), in 2020 in Dubai (UAE), and in 2025 it will be held in Osaka (Japan).
The project of the master plan and architectural concept of the site for the World Expo 2030 in Ukraine worth EUR 1.3 million was donated to Ukraine by the famous British architectural bureau Zaha Hadid Architects.
