Tag Archives: EXPO 2020

Russia climbs rankings to become Dubai’s second-largest source market in 2021, with UAE set to remain the country’s preferred GCC destination

Russia has grown to become the second-largest source market for Dubai’s travel and tourism sector in 2021, climbing from eighth place in last year’s rankings. This is according to data released ahead of the next edition of Arabian Travel Market (ATM), which will take place at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) from 9-12 May 2022.

Russian market on course to surpass US$1 billion for UAE within next four years

Commissioned by Reed Exhibitions (RX), the organisers of ATM 2022, the Colliers report concluded that the UAE is also likely to retain its status as the preferred GCC destination for Russian visitors over the longer term, accounting for more than 90% of inbound arrivals in 2026.

In addition to the volume of inbound visitors to the UAE, the average spend of Russian travellers is expected to grow significantly between 2021 and 2026, increasing by $85 to reach approximately $1,280 per person during this period. Consequently, the Russian market is on course to surpass $1 billion for the Emirates within the next four years.

Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director ME – Arabian Travel Market, said: “The latest figures from Colliers demonstrate that visitors from Russia are playing – and will continue to play – an important role for our region’s travel sector, especially when it comes to the UAE.

“The fact that Dubai was among the first destinations to open its borders to Russian travellers without the need to quarantine has no doubt been a significant factor in the sustained levels of visitation, with 296,000 inbound arrivals to the emirate in 2020.

Average length of stay for Russian visitors grew by 74.5% from 2019 to 2020

“Encouragingly, 2021 numbers look set to surpass that figure, with Dubai having welcomed 256,000 visitors from Russia as of the third quarter of the year.”

The Russian market’s average length of stay (ALoS) saw a year-on-year uptick of 74.5% in Q4 2020, growing to 8.2 nights from the 4.7 nights recorded during the corresponding period of the previous year.

Despite ALoS expected to decline gradually in the future as new regional destinations continue to emerge, Colliers researchers predict that drivers such as Expo 2020 Dubai and spillover demand from FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 will boost inbound arrivals from Russia by 170% in the short term.

“In light of this forecast, the Russian travel and tourism market will be of great interest to ATM 2022 attendees. As such, we will have a dedicated seminar on the Russian market, which will tackle key content on this lucrative market, as well as focusing on attracting leading buyers through our hosted buyer programme,” added Curtis.

With continued growth predicted, Russia will represent a key focus at ATM 2022 with a dedicated Forum

The session is organised by Destination of the World News and focuses on the luxury end of the market.

Now in its 29th year and working in collaboration with the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) and Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) – formerly the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) – ATM show highlights in 2022 will include, among others, destination summits focused on the key source markets of Saudi Arabia, Russia and India.

ameerul.hasan@thechangemakers.news

Indian Consul General celebrates Republic Day: India Pavilion ‘will co-create next generation of ‘unicorns’

DUBAI, 26 January 2022 – India’s pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai will be a legacy structure that will showcase India’s growth story and help co-create the next generation of ‘unicorns’, the Consul General of India, His Excellency Dr Aman Puri, said on Wednesday at celebrations to mark India’s 73rd Republic Day.

India’s pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai will be a legacy structure that will showcase India’s growth story and help co-create the next generation of ‘unicorns’

Dr Puri said: “Close to 200 startups have so far showcased their amazing ideas at the India Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai, and our target is to reach 500 by the end of the Expo. Last year, more than 40 Indian startups entered the unicorn club. Through this pavilion, we will co-create the next generation of unicorns.”

Dr Puri hailed the contribution of the 3.3 million Indians living in the UAE, saying: “India, which represents one-sixth of humanity, will continue to make its contribution to the world. Through this pavilion, we will showcase how India is going to be a USD 5 trillion economy over the next five to seven years.”

Dr Puri hailed the contribution of the 3.3 million Indians living in the UAE, saying: “India, which represents one-sixth of humanity, will continue to make its contribution to the world.

The India Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai celebrated India’s 73rd Republic Day with a colourful programme featuring cultural dances and patriotic songs presented by UAE schools, a performance by drummers from Punjab and an impassioned speech by Dr Puri.

After unfurling the Indian flag outside the pavilion, Dr Puri said: “It is a matter of immense pleasure and honour for us to celebrate the 73rd Republic Day of India at Expo 2020 Dubai, an amazing global event hosted by the United Arab Emirates successfully amidst the unprecedented crisis humanity is facing.

“The UAE and India enjoy close brotherly relations… and now we see that the relationship is at an inflection point. We will be seeing extraordinary collaboration and partnerships going forward, and this will continue to benefit this region and the global community.”

ameerul.hasan@thechangemakers.news

Students and educators: future classrooms must be adaptive, integrate technology, focus on growth and ability

DUBAI, 24 January 2022 – The COVID-19 pandemic may have completely disrupted the lives of students and teachers, but it has also offered an opportunity to refocus and explore what the ‘classrooms of the future’ should look like. At Expo 2020 Dubai’s International Day of Education, education authorities, students and teachers agreed that in order to safeguard a more prosperous future, schools must offer hybrid learning models that integrate technology, focus on growth, emphasise emotional and social education, and prepare for a professional landscape that is rapidly evolving.

Ranjitsinh Disale, Global Teacher Prize winner (2020) discussed his innovative teaching methods, including the addition of QR codes to books that link to audio poems, video lectures, assignments and stories to engage students.

Opening the event on Monday, His Excellency Hussain bin Ibrahim Al Hammadi, UAE Minister of Education, highlighted how the COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated the potential of technology in education, forcing the world to explore sustainable educational systems that meet the needs of students.

Praising Expo 2020 Dubai’s passion to spotlight education as a beacon of hope for students and educators around the world, Stefania Giannini, Assistant Director General for Education, UNESCO, said: “The pandemic demonstrated that schools are not simply places to learn but also a social space, and provider of vital healthcare, nutrition and protection services. It also shed light on our teachers and their talent… and no technology can replace a teacher in the classroom.

“When we consider the future of education, I emphasise that this is not a blueprint, but a living document. It’s about collectively reimagining our future by forging a new social contract for education. This calls for change, healing past injustices and enhancing our capacity to act together for a better future. We need to rebalance our relationships with each other, with the planet, and with digital technology.”

Stefania Giannini, Assistant Director General for Education, UNESCO, said: “The pandemic demonstrated that schools are not simply places to learn but also a social space, and provider of vital healthcare, nutrition and protection services.

Tannya Jajal, Chapter Lead, Women in Tech UAE, said: “Whatever technology we adopt will be with the aim of making learning more awe-inspiring and personalised for the learner, and how that looks may vary between learners… and in the future, as long as the right policymakers are in place, then we can leverage technology for good quality education – it would be thanks to technology, but not entirely reliant on technology.”

A former foreign policy adviser to three UK Prime Ministers, Tom Fletcher, Principal of Hertford College, Oxford University, UK, who emphasised that school would be an idea, not a building, said: “Education is upstream diplomacy, which is why I work in education. If we are better at educating the next generation, then conflicts will be easier to manage and we’ll be better prepared for global challenges… We will move away from memorising facts, to more social and emotional learning. Education of the head, hand, and heart – a combination of knowledge, skills, and values – will be at the core of the new education model.”

Trailblazing students joined the event to share their perspectives on learning during the pandemic, and their insights for the future of education. Adam El Rafey, 11, who was able to join the first-ever virtual cohort of the Canada-based Knowledge Society, a renowned human accelerator programme that went digital due to the pandemic, shared a compelling summary of his vision for education: “Students should be judged based on ability and capability rather than age, and project-based learning will help us learn how to make a real-world impact. When it comes to technology – imagine learning about Mars through a textbook, but then being transported there by augmented or virtual reality to study the atmosphere and physical changes. Schools also need to focus more on future-focused subjects and skills so that we can continuously adapt and overcome future challenges.”

Soon to be university-bound, Eray Calimano addressed standardised testing: “We need to review assessments and grades. I’ve always seen a number that leads to a letter, instead of an opportunity to look at mistakes I can avoid or how to improve. When it comes to how we look at success, we need to recognise growth and not just a number.”

Transformational teachers held masterclasses to share their journeys with fellow educators

Alaa Mohamed Elsayed, 14, found time to pursue courses that sparked her interest in programming as a future career. Passionate about ensuring education is accessible, and young girls in particular, Alaa emphasised the important role technology could play in making the right to education a reality that can be fulfilled.

Transformational teachers held masterclasses to share their journeys with fellow educators, including Mexico-based Diana Lorena Rubio, Global Teacher Prize nominee (2021), whose STEAM (science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics) club encourages young people to transform their ideas and dreams into projects and prototypes where they solve real problems, reinforcing that any child has the potential to become a scientist. Similarly, Ranjitsinh Disale, Global Teacher Prize winner (2020) discussed his innovative teaching methods, including the addition of QR codes to books that link to audio poems, video lectures, assignments and stories to engage students.

The International Day of Education forms part of the Programme for People and Planet, which runs across the entire six months of Expo 2020 Dubai, featuring 18 International Days and 10 Theme Weeks, each of which is exploring key issues of global significance.

ameerul.hasan@thechangemakers.news

Gulfood 2022 to supercharge global food agenda in driving a better future for the food sector

DUBAI, 20 January, 2022: Gulfood 2022 will power considerable trends and techniques currently disrupting the international food industry agenda with its stated mandate of connecting, creating, and changing the future for the better.

The 27th edition of the world’s largest annual F&B sourcing event, which will span 21 Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) halls, will underscore UAE’s status at the forefront of sector change and leading role in tackling global issues with the launch of Gulfood Zero Waste, a global campaign in partnership with restaurants and hotels driving the zero waste initiative globally.

Gulfood Zero Waste Campaign Underscores UAE’s Commitment to Tackle Global Issues with Goal to Foster Sector Movement

Running from 13 – 17 February, the landmark show will be the global sector’s undisputed transformation powerbroker, where major global challenges, trends and change drivers will be examined, including e-commerce; technology, sustainability and disruptive cellular agriculture bio-innovation – the production of animal sourced foods from cell culture methods; emerging slow and plant-based food trends. The show will be a precursor to the much-anticipated Food For Future Summit and Global Agtech Innovation Expo taking place from 23 – 24 February at EXPO 2020’s Dubai Exhibitions Center – part of the EXPO 2020 Food, Agriculture and Livelihoods Week.

INSPIRING GLOBAL CHANGE

Latest data from the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (UN-FAO) indicates that one third of the world’s food is wasted, equating to 1.3 billion tonnes annually at a cost of USD1 trillion. Beyond the detrimental environmental impact, wastage also translates to the loss of nutrients and resources (water, land, labour, energy, and cost) invested in food production.

Gulfood Zero Waste will light the way in addressing this major global issue, with chefs from 30 UAE restaurants, cafes, and dark kitchens focusing on sustainable practices using local produce via off-site workshops and masterclasses.

The initiative also provides a platform for impact-driven, homegrown companies, including a partnership with The Waste Lab, which is implementing solutions to repurpose food, such as compost, with societal and economic benefits. The Gulfood 2022 onsite Zero Waste Mega Impact will aim to collect 1,000kg of food wastage to produce 400kg of compost, equating to a CO2e emissions saving of 1,000kg.

Gulfood Zero Waste will light the way in addressing this major global issue, with chefs from 30 UAE restaurants, cafes, and dark kitchens focusing on sustainable practices using local produce via off-site workshops and masterclasses.

The innovative campaign will culminate in an award ceremony recognising zero waste-leading restaurants.

“Gulfood 2022 will underscore UAE’spivotal role in driving global F&B sector change for the better with a deep-dive into the trends and techniques set to transform the industry for good. The Gulfood Zero Waste is a global initiative with the goal of sparking dialogue and movement among policy-makers, industry leaders and communities to take a pro-active approach to adopting zero-waste initiatives, which can help end the discrepancies between food waste and hunger while playing a part in addressing climate change,” said Trixie LohMirmand, Executive Vice President, Exhibitions & Events, DWTC.

“The campaign is yet another example of UAE’s desire and leadership to power industry development for the good of all. In addition, this influential gathering will host over 4,000 exhibiting companies, a host of high-calibre speakers from 120 countries, and more than 100 award-winning chefs, including Michelin Star and ‘World’s Best’ winners, business leaders and government policy-makers under one roof.”

AN ALL-ACTION POWERBROKER

Gulfood 2022 will propel sector conversations from agenda to action and facilitate innovative start-ups, spark the emergence of food tech solutions, empower young industry professionals and women within the sector’s research and development, and spur e-commerce.

“Gulfood 2022 will build on the event’s unequivocal reputation as an industry trend springboard and a global sourcing powerhouse to inspire industry-wide transformation for the good of the entire eco-system, from raw material producers to policy-makers and consumers,” explained LohMirmand.

“Gulfood 2022 will underscore UAE’spivotal role in driving global F&B sector change for the better with a deep-dive into the trends and techniques set to transform the industry for good.

“This is a time when Dubai is, via Expo 2020, presenting to the world, a whole new future with the grandstanding of epoch-making transformations. Gulfood 2022 takes its cue from this inspiring vision with a more profound concept to provoke a stronger collective impact on the industry’s future.”

TOMORROW’S FOOD FUTURE TODAY

Driving creativity and change, Gulfood 2022 will shape the future of food. In another industry first, this year’s event will feature theGulfood E-commerce Platform, an exclusive networking and conference agenda powering the increasingly growing role of the digital marketplace in the food supply chain.

SMEs will pitch to leading e-commerce and food delivery partners on ways retailers can boost their digital presence and hear from sector leaders, including Sebastian Wussler, the German entrepreneur behind Hoodly, an online store building application that helps with their set-up and e-commerce business process monitoring in less than five minutes. Other sector pioneers who will be providing invaluable insight include Nikola Cabarkapa, VP of Brand Partnerships and MFC of grocery delivery app Instashop and Yesuprabhakar Yarlagadda, Vice President – Grocery, of the Middle East’s homegrown online marketplace, Noon.

Also new for 2022, theGulfood Top Table will take culinary experiences to new heights with a live, star-studded line-up of award-winning chefs and food influencers. Industry media personnel, disruptors and global trendsetters will be coming together in a masterclass extravaganza. More than 70 chefs from 50 restaurants will create in excess of 1,000 creative dishes across the five days. Featured chefs include:Antonio Bachour, the 2018 World’s Best Pastry Chef, often described as a “confection master”; 2-star Michellin chefTom Aikens;Nick Alvis, from renowned homegrown restaurant, Folly; top Emirati chefsKhaled Al Saadi, co-founder of FAE Café, andFaisal Naser, founder of Lento; and Dubai-based Syrian culinary aceMohamad Orfali.

Gulfood Inspire, meanwhile, a host of speakers take to the stage, including F&B business leaders, ministers, policy-makers, retail heads, technologists, agriculturists, analysts and futurists providing unmissable insights, industry knowledge and industry pathways.

Gulfood Global Changemakers, the future-focused start-up programme will see 30-40 embryo ventures pitch innovative ideas and food tech solutions to renowned venture capitalists and investors. The contenders will also hear from Dennis Levine, the controversial author, corporate consultant, and former managing director at the iconic Wall Street investment banking firm Drexel Burnham Lambert, who was a major player in mergers and acquisitions throughout the 1980s.

MORE POWER TO THE YOUTH

Gulfood YouthX in partnership Hilton and Dubai College of Tourism is a first-of-its-kind platform to empower the most promising aspiring chefs, featuring a massive mentorship & scholarship programme. With the first edition focusing on aspiring Emirati chefs, participants will get to interact with Kasdi Dahari, Executive Chef, Hilton Palm Jumeirah and a team of young chefs that went on to win seven Gold Medals in the 2021 Chefs’ Table Competition.

The winning chefs in the YouthX contest will land a career-changing hands-on learning experience in one of Hilton Europe’s dining destinations, while the runner-up will secure a 25% scholarship for Dubai College of Tourism’s Culinary Arts Programme.

MARKET RESPONSE

The new Gulfood approach has won an enthusiastic response from exhibitors who have praised its forward-thinking strategy. Among the expanded 2022 exhibitor line-up are new pavilions from the Norwegian seafood industry, Uruguay, Panama, and Uzbekistan who will be joined by newcomers including: Australia’s ABW Foods, Invest NSW and Austrade; Colombia’s Cartagena Chamber of Commerce; Uruguay’s Cooperativa Nacional De Productores De Leche, Estancias del Lago S.R.L. and Instituto Nacional De Carnes; Switzerland’s Fenaco and MK Merchants SA; Panama’s ProPanama, South Africa’s RFG Foods Pty Ltd., and Hong Kong’s Vitasoy.

“Time and again, Gulfood has addressed our industry’s pressing challenges and enabled us to focus minds on solutions,” commented Simon Penfold, Sales Director – Ingredients and Food Service – Middle East at Fonterra. “This year, organisers have taken this concept to a whole new level by directly addressing key industry issues through new events, such as Gulfood YouthX and Gulfood Zero Waste. It has set the benchmark in moving from discussion to action and thrown down a challenge to the industry to accept the baton and implement at pace.”

Jean-Philip Habib, Business Development Manager, Arrow Juice Factory, is eagerly anticipating the insights from Gulfood Inspire. “Our industry is increasingly subject to regulation, impacting everything from packaging to waste disposal and the chance to hear first-hand from the policy-makers of what we may face in the future will be incredibly useful and aid the industry in planning,” he said.

Gulfood 2022 will be held under stringent safety and hygiene protocols. DWTC has proved its capability to curate the safest face-to-face business environment and deliver world-class events with the highest safety protocols.

With product sampling and handling a vital interaction at the global F&B event, DWTC’s proven protocols have been further intensified for Gulfood 2022 under strict guidance and coordination with the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) and Dubai Municipality to ensure the safest possible business conditions. Wearing of masks is mandatory, with social distancing in place to ensure the wellbeing of all delegates. Onsite registration will not be available; registration must be completed in advance via http://www.gulfood.com.

More information on the event safety guidelines can be found here https://www.gulfood.com/useful-info/safety-guidelines

ameerul.hasan@thechangemakers.news

Image Source Gulfood.com FB Page

Children eat free at more than 20 of Expo 2020’s restaurants, with cuisine from across the globe

DUBAI, 18 January 2022 – Not only is entry to Expo 2020 complimentary for visitors under the age of 18, but children under the age of eight also eat free at a host of restaurants, affording families the opportunity to sample some of the world’s best foods.

From gourmet burgers, to authentic Thai, homegrown organic dishes, and sizzling African barbecue..

From gourmet burgers, to authentic Thai, homegrown organic dishes, and sizzling African barbecue, the world is one’s oyster for families who want to be entertained and fed. From Monday to Thursdays until 31 March, under-eights eat free from the kids’ menu when parents order a main meal.

Kids eat free:

Adrift Burger Bar
The brainchild of award-winning chef David Myers, Adrift’s epic burger recipe has travelled around the globe to land at Expo 2020. With homemade burgers featuring inventive toppings, together with irresistible fries and shakes, Adrift’s simple but effective formula has made this spot a magnet for families since Expo opened.
Location: Mobility District
Opening times: Monday-Thursday 1000-0000 GST and Friday-Saturday 1000-0100 GST

Alif Café by Farm2Table
Families are guaranteed the freshest ingredients at born-at-Expo concept Alif Café, which showcases the incredible range and quality the UAE has to offer, with organic ingredients from a local farm.
Location: Mobility District
Opening times: Sunday-Thursday 1000 -0000 GST and Friday-Saturday 1000-0100 GST

Families are guaranteed the freshest ingredients at born-at-Expo concept Alif Café, which showcases the incredible range and quality the UAE has to offer

Alkebulan African Dining Hall
The world’s first African dining hall is a must-visit for families, with top chefs serving the finest cuisine the continent has to offer. With 10 counters to discover, there’s something for everyone, including buttermilk fried chicken and smoky barbecue options.
Location: Jubilee Park
Opening times: Sunday – Thursday 1000 – 0000 GST and Friday – Saturday 1000 – 0100 GST

Baron
This relaxed neighbourhood joint rustles up tasty rustic dishes using produce from organic farmers markets and sustainably sourced fish. This is soul food for the whole family.
Location: Al Wasl
Opening times: Sunday-Thursday 1000-2300 GST and Friday-Saturday 1000-0100 GST

Bread Ahead Bakery & School
London-based Bread Ahead are masters of bakery with a loyal following of Brits and food fanatics across the globe. Expo 2020 Dubai visitors can choose from a selection of heavenly doughnuts, freshly baked croissants, sourdough bread and margarita pizzas.
Location: Mobility District
Opening times: Sunday-Thursday 1000-2300 GST and Friday-Saturday 1000-0000 GST

Café Milano
The perfect spot for parents to recharge their batteries, this homely café serves authentic Italian cuisine that caters to all tastes.
Location: Mobility District
Opening times: Sunday-Thursday 1000-2300 GST and Friday-Saturday 1000-0100 GST

Alkebulan African Dining Hall
The world’s first African dining hall is a must-visit for families

Canvas by Coffee Culture
With its contemporary, laidback setting and the aroma of freshly brewed coffee, Canvas by Coffee Culture is a must for a caffeine fix and a light bite to fortify families for their explorations ahead.
Location: Opportunity District
Opening times: Sunday-Thursday 0900-2300 GST and Friday-Saturday 0900-0100 GST

Gastro Roots of Hungary
For a warm Hungarian welcome and authentic cuisine from this central European country, diners can watch chefs prepare their food, including hearty goulashes and soups, which makes for an interactive experience.
Location: Hungary Pavilion
Opening times: Monday-Sunday 1200-2130 GST

Jubilee Gastronomy
A stunning location for special occasions, Jubilee Gastronomy hosts regular chef’s tables with some of the world’s leading culinary maestros.
Location: Al Wasl
Opening times: Sunday-Thursday 1000-0000 GST and Friday-Saturday 1000-0100 GST

Kojaki
Families can dive into this unique Korea-meets-Japan experience, which uses high-quality ingredients, contemporary cooking techniques and authentic flavours. Creative dishes include lobster mac and cheese, and marinated beef tartare with Korean pear and slow-cooked egg yolk.
Location: Opportunity District
Opening times: Sunday-Thursday 1000-2300 GST and Friday-Saturday 1100-0100 GST

Kutir
With an authentic Indian menu that packs a flavour-filled punch, Kutir diners can enjoy exotic ingredients in a variety of meat, fish and vegetarian dishes that are surprisingly wallet-friendly. Try jackfruit dumplings, truffle pulao rice, marinated lamb chops and guinea fowl biriyani accompanied with nan breads and poppadums, with all dishes featuring seasonal ingredients.
Location: Opportunity District
Opening times: Sunday-Thursday 1200-2220 GST and Friday-Saturday 1200-2300 GST

Long Chim
The brainchild of acclaimed chef David Thompson, Long Chim brings the flavours of modern Bangkok to the Expo 2020 Dubai site, from Thai oxtail soup to massaman chicken curry and sweet and sour prawns. Diners who like to spice things up will relish this upscale street-food experience.
Location: Mobility District
Opening times: Sunday-Wednesday 1000-2200 GST and Thursday-Friday 1000-2300 GST

Mudra
On a mission to share a plant-based lifestyle though approachable cuisine, Mudra features a range of options from simple pizzas and burgers to novelty Nikkei sushi, along with appetising starters and mains to impress the littlest of palates.
Location: Sustainability District
Opening times: Sunday-Thursday 1000-2200 GST and Friday-Saturday 1000-0100 GST

Rising Flavours
For a real taste of Arabia, Rising Flavours showcases some of the region’s best talent. Visitors can enjoy traditional meat and fish dishes served with rice, and washed down with refreshing mint drinks.
Location: Jubilee Park
Opening times: Sunday-Thursday 1000 – 0000 GST and Friday-Saturday 1000-0100 GST

ameerul.hasan@thechangemakers.news

Financing bold decisions and accountability on SDGs – Global Goals Business Forum

Responsible investment strategies, aligned with the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), alongside bold action on – and accountability from businesses to – the SDGs proved key themes at the Global Goals Business Forum at Expo 2020 Dubai. The event, held at Dubai Exhibition Centre, Expo 2020 Dubai, brought together industry leaders and experts from across the public and private sectors.

Hassan Al Hashemi, Vice President of International Relations, Dubai Chamber of Commerce (Official Business Integrator of Expo 2020 Dubai), said: “ We call on businesses to align their efforts with the public sector to accelerate progress towards the SDGs and ensure a steady path to a brighter future.”

In his welcome address, Hassan Al Hashemi, Vice President of International Relations, Dubai Chamber of Commerce (Official Business Integrator of Expo 2020 Dubai), said: “While the pandemic has highlighted the broader vulnerabilities of our global society, we know the roadmap forward to address these interconnected challenges are the [SDGs]. We call on businesses to align their efforts with the public sector to accelerate progress towards the SDGs and ensure a steady path to a brighter future.”

That set the tone for the forum, co-curated by Expo 2020 Dubai, Dubai Chamber of Commerce, Estonia and the UN Global Compact, and held as part of Global Goals Week, which runs from 15-22 January.

In her opening address, Sanda Ojiambo, CEO and Executive Director, UN Global Compact, said: “A resounding and recurring message I have heard over these last few days is that we’re in the right place, at the right time, here in Dubai at Expo 2020 – to tap into an immense spirit of hope, optimism, collaboration and urgency. To reignite, as we’ve heard, the ambitions, actions and accountability that will help us make up for the gains that have been lost in progress around achieving the SDGs.

“We need business leaders to make bold business decisions for the future, we need businesses to integrate the [SDGs] into their corporate strategies, we need businesses to account for their externalities in the same way they account for their business losses.”

We need business leaders to make bold business decisions for the future, we need businesses to integrate the [SDGs] into their corporate strategies

Vaishali Nigam Sinha, Chief Sustainability Officer, ReNew Power, one of India’s leading renewable energy firms, joined Patrick Chalhoub, CEO, Chalhoub Group, and Emmeline Hambali, Group Managing Director, Dynapack Asia, Indonesia, in the opening session, SDG Ambition: Accelerate Business Action

Vaishali Nigam Sinha, also Chair of the ReNew Foundation, ReNew Power’s philanthropic arm that works on creating sustainable communities through access to clean energy, said: “It is the availability of capital and commitment of investors which is helping us to accelerate and amplify what we are doing – that’s the good news and I think we should all recognise that.

“Whether it is the smog, the total transition to clean energy [or] engaging communities, all of these issues require a few critical things – one of them is investments. I cannot highlight [enough] the importance of ensuring that the funds [are] flowing through.

“We have set huge renewable energy targets in India and we have also seen a robust flow of investments coming into the country. That is really driving the commitment and ambition in the sector … The government is providing the policy direction and framework, but we are actually going and doing it on the ground. And if we don’t do this, the change is not going to happen.”

Financing remained a core theme as the forum progressed, with session Financing the 2030 Agenda – moderated by Marie Morice, Head of Sustainable Finance, UN Global Compact

Financing remained a core theme as the forum progressed, with session Financing the 2030 Agenda – moderated by Marie Morice, Head of Sustainable Finance, UN Global Compact – touching on SDG-aligned investment instruments and Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) strategies that help further the SDGs.

Panellist Zahara Malik, Co-Founder and CEO, Grosvenor Capital, who noted an increased emphasis on the ‘S’ in ESG, in light of the pandemic, said: “Right now, from corporates to individuals, we’re very much focused on ‘the human’ … so, a positive in terms of a change in trends and what we’re seeing is the drive for the social element of ESG.”

Responsible financing and increased ESG reporting pressures on corporates proved core themes as the dialogue progressed.

Sarah Usmani, Managing Director – Global Head of Sustainable, Asset & Project Finance, First Abu Dhabi Bank, said: “Financiers play a very important role in terms of encouraging or discouraging certain types of activities. We saw that happen before COVID-19. For example, a lot of banks actually stopped financing coal … If the financing community gets together as well and starts financing projects, which will result in a better, sustainable future, then that’s how you also channel investors as well.”

Fellow panellist Mabinty Koroma-Moore, Founder and CEO, Legacy Impact Venture Enterprises Africa, said: “There is a stronger appetite, particularly among institutional investors, as well as private equity [and venture capital] investors around mapping their strategies and assets against the SDGs.

“The pandemic has exacerbated some of the gaps and this is an opportunity for more investors to look at blended finance approaches – to really think about how we can be more strategic in terms of creating and developing SDG-linked investment instruments that are aligned with needs of people in emerging and frontier markets.”

Other forum sessions touched on the crucial role played by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the SDGs, how digitalisation can accelerate progress and the private sector’s efforts to prevent and eliminate child labour in their operations and supply chains.

For the first time in its history, Global Goals Week has left the UN General Assembly in New York, coming to life at Expo 2020 Dubai from 15-22 January with a series of special events, activations and unforgettable visitor experiences.

ameerul.hasan@thechangemakers.news

Equality is path to progress for humankind, world leaders tell Expo 2020 Dubai’s Global Goals Week

DUBAI, 17 January 2021 – The COVID-19 pandemic has increased the time needed to bridge the gender gap – which was already at 100 years – by another 36 years. World leaders agree that the need to course-correct and urgently achieve gender equality and women’s empowerment is essential not only for the sake of fulfilling a human right, but also for the advancement of humankind, Expo 2020 Dubai’s Global Goals Week heard today (17 January).

World leaders and Changemakers from around the globe to connect and work towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Contributing different perspectives on the state of gender equality and women’s empowerment, panellists and speakers at The Women’s World Majlis | Gender Equality, the Mother of All SDGs addressed everything from cross-generational approaches to the role of women in peace.

The event took place at the Women’s Pavilion as part of Global Goals Week, under Expo 2020 Dubai’s Programme for People and Planet, serving as a platform for world leaders and change-makers from around the globe to connect and work towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Rt Hon Helen Clark, former Prime Minister of New Zealand, said: “If we can’t achieve SDG 5 [Gender Equality], then we can’t achieve the SDGs. When women have less access to healthcare and education, and are more numerous among the poor and hungry, you just can’t make progress. Turn that around: if women are fully supported, then you are not only fulfilling their right to equality, but it’s also a huge contributor to prosperous societies, families and economies … We need to take to heart the framing UN Women had around its Beijing+25 event, bridging the energy, insights and perspectives of younger women with that of older women who have fought so many battles. That rich diversity and intersectionality will help us tackle issues together. We’ve got this far, but it’s not far enough, and we should be an unstoppable force.”

Her Excellency Epsy Campbell Barr, First Vice President of Costa Rica, congratulated the Women’s Pavilion for its efforts on SDG.

In an earlier panel discussion, speakers agreed that progress required better legislative framework, alongside a change in attitudes. Her Excellency Epsy Campbell Barr, First Vice President of Costa Rica, congratulated the Women’s Pavilion for its efforts and said: “We need a network of men working on SDG 5, because many leaders see it as a goal only for women, while other SDGs are for the wider world … The women’s movement has brought about many new and necessary laws, but we expect the laws alone to change reality … If we are involved in the field of women’s issues, then it is easier to get political commitment. We need to make major changes and use our budgets to secure equality, and that requires decisions to be made by a large group of people across different organisations.”


Her Excellency Sonja Hyland, Deputy Secretary General, Department of Foreign Affairs, Ireland, said: “Due to Ireland’s own conflict, women, peace and security is a huge part of Ireland’s foreign policy agenda as a member of the UN Security Council, and also its national agenda. We have worked on our peace process for four decades and are still implementing it, and we’ve learnt that if you don’t include women, you’re not going to have sustainable peace … We all must keep going back to the evidence whenever people question the focus on women. Whether it’s in conflict and security, business, or development with social and economic aims, we should flip the question and ask: what do you think you’re going to achieve without 50 per cent of the world’s population?”

Expo 2020’s Global Goals Week, in association with the United Nations, aims to drive progress on the achievement of the Global Goals

Her Excellency Stella Ronner-Grubacic, Ambassador for Gender and Diversity, European External Action Service, said: “The building of infrastructure [policies on gender equality] has been a major achievement of these past few decades and has really changed things. However, now comes the hard part of implementing this infrastructure, which includes gender mainstreaming into our work. This needs to cease to be an afterthought or separate agenda item, but rather should become a reflex … and gender-responsive leadership is really important, and must be properly introduced internally and externally. We need to look at how to instill this in all leaders and managers, and hold them accountable for it. This also means being given the tools and training to live up to commitments.”
Running from 15-22 January, Expo 2020’s Global Goals Week, in association with the United Nations, aims to drive progress on the achievement of the Global Goals at a critical time of uncertainty in the midst of the continuing COVID-19 pandemic. Global Goals Week is the seventh of 10 Theme Weeks under Expo 2020’s Programme for People and Planet, offering an exchange of inspiring new perspectives to address the greatest challenges and opportunities of our time.

ameerul.hasan@thechangemakers.news

Expo 2020 Dubai’s Global Goals Week in collaboration with the United Nations

DUBAI, 14 January 2022 – Bringing the world together to drive collective progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for a better and more equitable future for all by 2030 is the crucial focus of Expo 2020 Dubai’s Global Goals Week.

Bringing the world together to drive collective progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Running from 15-22 January, Global Goals Week, held in association with the United Nations, will serve as a platform for different players – from world leaders and policy-makers, to business leaders and citizens – to connect and work toward achieving the SDGs at a critical time of uncertainty in the midst of the continuing COVID-19 pandemic. With less than nine years left to deliver the goals, this week of hybrid events will highlight how the world’s fundamental challenges are interconnected and can only be addressed through reinvigorated multilateralism.

Her Excellency Reem Al Hashimy, UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation and Director General, Expo 2020 Dubai, said: “The United Arab Emirates believes in the importance of global collective action to create a future where everyone can thrive in peace, dignity and equality on a healthy planet.“By bringing the world together, Expo 2020 Dubai provides a launchpad to solve humanity’s greatest challenges, in the spirit of hope, resilience and optimism. Hosting the UN Global Goals at Expo 2020 is yet another further testament to our aligned vision for equitable, inclusive and sustainable communities for all.”

Amina J Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General, United Nations, said: “At the core of the 2030 Agenda is the need for urgent action to tackle growing poverty and inequality, empower women and girls and address the climate emergency. The world has still not embraced the pace and scale of change required to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. Kicking off year two of the Decade of Action, Global Goals Week launching at Expo 2020 in Dubai presents a critical opportunity to demonstrate, at every level, our raised ambition and commitment to keeping alive and achieving the Global Goals, ensuring we leave no one behind and that we recover better from the COVID-19 pandemic.”

The United Arab Emirates believes in the importance of global collective action to create a future where everyone can thrive in peace, dignity and equality on a healthy planet.

Global Goals Week will feature a plethora of impactful events: from an opening speech by Amina J Mohammed and a showcase of youth around the globe sharing their SDGs commitments on the world’s largest 360-degree projection screen at Al Wasl Plaza on 15 January to Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week’s Opening Ceremony and the Zayed Sustainability Prize awards ceremony at Dubai Exhibition Centre, Expo 2020 Dubai, on 17 January.

The ‘Global Goals for All’ flagship event, co-curated by Project Everyone, will welcome Her Excellency Mariam Hareb Almheiri, UAE Minister of Climate Change and the Environment; Jayathma Wickramanayake, the UN Secretary General’s Envoy on Youth; and virtually Bill Gates, Co-Chair, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The panel will address the facts and solutions needed to inspire action around the world’s most prominent issues, including gender inequality and the climate crisis, on 16 January.

SDG 5: ‘Achieve gender equality and empower for all women and girls’ will be the focus for the Women’s World Majlis – A Better Future for All: Leaving No One Behind on 17 January and will feature discussions with Her Excellency Epsy Alejandra Campbell Barr, Vice President of Costa Rica and Helen Clark, former Prime Minister of New Zealand and a global leader in sustainable development and gender equality, who will participate virtually.

Other World Majlis sessions include Everyday (S)heroes, in collaboration with Hungary; Extending the Revolution to Every Desk and Doorstep: Fourth Industrial Revolution for Everyone, in collaboration with Morocco; and Power to Change the World: Fuelling a Sustainable World in 2030, in collaboration with Australia.

The Global Goals Business Forum, co-curated by Dubai Chamber of Commerce (Official Business Integrator of Expo 2020 Dubai), Estonia and UN Global Compact, will examine how the global community can foster economic prosperity for all

On 18 January, the Global Goals Business Forum, co-curated by Dubai Chamber of Commerce (Official Business Integrator of Expo 2020 Dubai), Estonia and UN Global Compact, will examine how the global community can foster economic prosperity for all, while ensuring the SDGs are achieved by the 2030 deadline. Speakers will include His Excellency Abdul Aziz Al Ghurair, Chairman, Dubai Chamber of Commerce; Sanda Ojiambo, CEO and Executive Director, UN Global Compact; and Eva-Maria Liimets, Estonia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs.

From 18-19 January, a trilateral summit, Coming Full Circle: Water, Food, Energy Summit, co-curated by Jordan, the Netherlands and the UAE, will bring together heads of government and policy-makers. Its aim is to increase the collective understanding of the interdependent relationships between water, food and energy security, and solutions that integrate the three, amid on-going collaborations between the three co-curating countries.

On 20 January, the Global Best Practice Assembly will spotlight all 50 Global Best Practice Programme projects selected by Expo 2020 Dubai from around the world that have provided impactful and sustainable interventions, with a view to expanding them elsewhere.

Global Goals Week is the seventh of 10 Theme Weeks under Expo 2020 Dubai’s Programme for People and Planet, offering an exchange of inspiring new perspectives to address the greatest challenges and opportunities of our time.

ameerul.hasan@thechangemakers.news

ADNOC Invests Close to USD1 Billion in the Long Term Development of Umm Shaif Field

Abu Dhabi, UAE – January 5, 2022: Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) announced today the award of a $946 million (AED3.47 billion) Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) contract for the strategic long-term development of its Umm Shaif field. The investment supports ADNOC’s oil production capacity plans of five million barrels per day (mmbpd) by 2030 while ensuring energy security for the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and partners around the world.

EPC contract award to NPCC will maximize efficiencies while maintaining production capacity of 275,000 barrels per day from pioneer offshore field

The ‘Long-Term Development Plan – Phase 1’ (LTDP-1) EPC contract was awarded by ADNOC Offshore to National Petroleum Construction Company (NPCC) after a competitive tender process. The scope of the award covers engineering, procurement, fabrication, installation and commissioning activities required to maintain Umm Shaif’s 275,000 barrels per day (mbd) crude oil production capacity, increase efficiencies and enhance the field’s long-term potential.

Significantly, over 75% of the total award value will flow back into the UAE economy under ADNOC’s In-Country Value (ICV) program, ensuring that more economic value remains in the country from the contracts it awards. This reinforces ADNOC’s commitment to the UAE’s ‘Principles of the 50’, the economic blueprint for sustainable growth announced by the UAE’s leadership in 2021.

EPC contract will see over 75% of the award value flow back into the UAE’s economy under ADNOC’s In-Country Value program

Yaser Saeed Almazrouei, ADNOC Upstream Executive Director, said: “This important award for the long-term development of ADNOC’s pioneer offshore Umm Shaif field will maximize efficiencies while maintaining future output and supporting ADNOC’s strategic objective of five million barrels of oil production capacity a day by 2030. In addition, the development plan for Umm Shaif underpins ADNOC’s commitment to maintain its position as a leading low-cost oil producer and strengthens our role as a reliable energy provider to customers around the world.

“We are pleased to be collaborating again with NPCC as a contractor bringing leading expertise and advanced technologies along with a proven industry track record. Importantly, the very high In-Country Value generated from this contract award will stimulate new business opportunities for the private sector and, in line with the directives of the UAE’s wise Leadership, support the UAE’s economic growth as we look to our next 50 years.”

The EPC contract, which is due to be completed in 2025, comprises two packages for network expansion and new well-head towers. The first package includes modifications and extension of existing facilities with installation of new subsea cables and pipelines for debottlenecking. The second package includes the design of three lean well-head towers with associated new pipelines. The contract incorporates ‘fit for the future’ technology including rigless electrical submersible pumps (ESP) and other digital field technologies, which will increase efficiencies while maintaining current production capacity.

Investment supports ADNOC’s production capacity plans of 5 million barrels per day by 2030

Ahmad Saqer Al Suwaidi, CEO of ADNOC Offshore, said: “This contract is an important contributor to ADNOC Offshore’s plans as we build our production capacity to over 2 million barrels a day in the coming years in support of ADNOC’s smart growth strategy. The award follows a highly competitive bid process, which included a rigorous assessment of how much of the contract value would support the growth and diversification of the UAE’s economy through ADNOC’s ICV Program.”

Umm Shaif is ADNOC’s most historic offshore asset. 2022 marks the 60th anniversary of the UAE’s first oil export of Umm Shaif crude oil (July 1962). Continuing investment and development at Umm Shaif ensures responsible maximization of profitability, enabling greater value for the UAE, ADNOC and its partners.

Image Source: https://www.adnoc.ae/

ameerul.hasan@thechangemakers.news

Global coffee entrepreneur releases Vietnam’s first major inspirational biography for business book readers

DUBAI: Madame Le Hoang Diep Thao, founder, and CEO of global brand King Coffee and co-founder of Vietnam’s Trung Nguyen Coffee and G7 has soft-launched her new book The Queen of King Coffee at Expo 2020 Dubai

The book, released in Dubai to mark the Vietnamese coffee industry’s increasing ties with the Middle East

The book, released in Dubai to mark the Vietnamese coffee industry’s increasing ties with the Middle East, is the first major business autobiography of a Vietnamese entrepreneur ever released in English or Vietnamese.

As the first volume to share detailed management lessons and explore the life history of a Vietnamese business leader, it offers readers around the world insights into Vietnam’s coffee industry, lessons in building a business, and paints a picture of post-war Vietnamese culture against the backdrop of the global coffee trade. Moreover, the book will engage readers’ curiosity to try the taste of Vietnam’s robusta coffee.

“I believe that it is now time for Vietnam to affirm coffee as an important strategic economic industry for our country and to consider how our coffee should be branded and promoted as proudly Vietnamese,” said Madame Diep Thao in her speech, noting that most international coffee drinkers are unaware they are consuming Vietnamese produce despite its predominance on the global market.

It offers readers around the world insights into Vietnam’s coffee industry, lessons in building a business, and paints a picture of post-war Vietnamese culture against the backdrop of the global coffee trade

The entrepreneur is known for her advocacy of the quality of Vietnamese robusta and her efforts to “change the game” in the international coffee industry where robusta coffee dominates global trade despite a pervading focus on arabica beans amongst consumers of specialty coffee. As vice president of Vietnam’s coffee & cocoa association VICOFA, Mme. Diep Thao has dedicated herself to encouraging broader international awareness of the rich flavors of robusta.

“As the builder of the two most successful coffee companies in the history of Vietnam’s coffee and with great aspirations to affirm the position of Vietnam’s robusta coffee, Madame Le Hoang Diep Thao has an extraordinary story that has the potential to move, inspire and fascinate readers from all over the world,” observed The Queen of King Coffee’s executive editor Michael Arnold, whose agency Metro Writers produced the book in Vietnam. “The book opens her business journey, lays the foundations for revolutionary change in the coffee industry, and crowns her business the ‘king of coffee’, telling the story of the rise of a number one brand grown from a rural late-90s coffee stall to become a global empire exporting delicious Vietnamese robusta to more than 120 countries around the world.”

“The Queen of King Coffee shares Madame Diep Thao’s real-world management and business experiences as the founder and chief executive of King Coffee, an inspiration for all women and young entrepreneurs who dream of business success,” he added.

“I’ve written this book to be the first comprehensive business manual of a Vietnamese businesswoman,” said Mme. Diep Thao during her presentation. “Through this book, you will learn from my more than 25 years of management experiences why Vietnam produces more female CEOs than any other country in the region. In these pages, I also reveal my business management strategies and principles, share examples, and explain all the important decisions that have brought me success and strengthened my resolve.”

As the builder of the two most successful coffee companies in the history of Vietnam’s coffee and with great aspirations to affirm the position of Vietnam’s robusta coffee, Madame Le Hoang Diep Thao has an extraordinary story that has the potential to move, inspire and fascinate readers from all over the world

A prodigious contributor to the local coffee industry, Madame Diep Thao’s work helped to secure a World Records Union for Vietnam’s robusta coffee beans and culture and has brought industry 4.0 technology to local coffee farmers, ready to propel Vietnamese coffee production into the metaverse.

The publication is soft-launching with an English version of the book now available on Amazon’s global e-commerce store. Mme. Diep Thao signed an MOU with local firm Kuttab Publishing during the ceremony to release the book in Arabic in the coming year.The Queen of King Coffee is available on Amazon at https://amzn.to/3supFpt.

ameerul.hasan@thechangemakers.news