The World Expo is the world’s third-largest event after the Olympics and World Cup. Expo 2020 Dubai will run from Oct. 1 to March 31, 2022, at the Dubai Exhibition Centre, with 192 countries participating. This marks Indonesia’s eighth World Expo appearance to date, previously attending the World Expo in Milan, Italy (2015); Shanghai, China  (2010);  Aichi,  Japan  (2005);  Hannover,  Germany  (2000);  Seville,  Spain  (1992);  Osaka,  Japan (1970); and New York, the United States (1964).

Didi Sumedi, the director general of national export development at the Trade Ministry, said Indonesia’s participation at World Expo 2020 is a golden opportunity to showcase the country’s trade potentials, investment opportunities and tourist destinations on a global stage.

“Indonesia’s participation in Expo 2020 Dubai is a golden opportunity as it will benefit us immensely, including strengthening the growth of the Indonesian economy,” he said in a statement.

Themed Creating the Future, From Indonesia to the World, the Indonesian Pavilion will feature a miniature version of the archipelago, occupying a 1,860-square-meter space at the Dubai Exhibition Centre. The pavilion is supported by sponsorships from its partners, which include Astra, the Oil Palm Plantation Fund Management Agency (BPDPKS), Gajah Tunggal, April, Wijaya Karya and Indofood.

Didi, who also serves as the commissioner general of the Indonesian Pavilion, said the opportunity would also strengthen Indonesia’s vision of being the 10^th largest economy by 2045, with a market share of 2 percent.

“The Indonesian Pavilion is a miniature country that will serve as a gate to introduce Indonesia to the world. Every week, the Indonesian Pavilion will highlight various ministries, institutions, provincial governments, established brands, as well as up-and-coming MSMEs [micro, small and medium enterprises] that will strengthen Indonesian exports.”

The Indonesian Pavilion will exhibit more than 300 export-ready products from local MSMEs, including commodities, handicrafts, interior products, textiles and fashion items. Local products derived from Indonesia’s myriad cultures will be featured in the Warisan Nusantara (Indonesian Legacy) exhibition, along with Indonesian spices, culinary delights and palm oil-derived products.

Throughout the six-month event, the Indonesian Pavilion will present 26 weekly themes and more than 75 business forums in a hybrid format, which are supported by 22 ministries and institutions, as well as eight provincial governments.

Indonesia’s presence at the event comes on the heels of the Indonesia-Uni Arab Emirates Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IUAE-CEPA) trade negotiations, which was launched in Bogor, West Java, on Sept. 2. IUAE-CEPA is Indonesia’s first bilateral trade negotiations with a partner country in the Gulf region.

With this in mind, Indonesia is set to improve its relations with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), a member of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and a non-traditional export market that serves as an international trade hub for the Middle Eastern, African and European markets.

From January to June this year, trade between Indonesia and the UAE was valued at approximately US$1.85 billion, with Indonesian exports and imports reaching $852.26 million and $1 billion, respectively. In 2020, trade between both countries was valued at $2.92 billion, with Indonesian exports and imports recorded at $1.24 billion and $1.68 billion, respectively.

Indonesia’s trade potential is strengthened by a large population with a high purchasing power, infrastructure readiness, as well as abundant natural resources.

At the same time, Indonesia’s participation in Expo 2020 Dubai aims to attract investments, which will benefit from infrastructure readiness, regulation and bureaucracy reform, as well as improving the quality of human resources. This will, in turn, highlight the investment opportunities of Indonesia, ranging from Industry 1.0 realization and national strategic projects to industry and tourism-based special economic zones (KEK).

“The support of various parties in ensuring Indonesia’s participation at Expo 2020 Dubai is very important so that Indonesia can benefit from the event, especially for the national economy. The synergy between government institutions and the private sector will maximize Indonesia’s potential,” Didi said.

Indonesia’s participation in the World Expo is a part of its commitment to global development. In November this year, Indonesia will serve as cochair alongside the United Kingdom at the (United Nations Climate Change (COP26) conference and the Forest,  Agriculture  and  Commodity  Trade  (FACT)  Dialogue  in  Glasgow,  Scotland. This signals Indonesia’s commitment to climate change despite being in its economic recovery period from the effects of COVID-19.

Next year, Indonesia will hold the presidency of the 2022 Group of 20 Summit, with the 17^th G20 Summit taking place in Bali. Currently, the government is preparing a finance track to continue Italy’s plan as president of the 2021 G20 Summit.

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