In order to preparation and planning for the Islamic Republic of Iran participation in Expo 2020 Dubai - UAE and visiting the construction process of our pavilion, and also meeting and negotiating with relevant officials of the UAE, a delegation who are headed by Deputy Minister of Industry , Mine and Trade on Commercial Affairs, Dr. Mofateh, and Advisor to the Minister of Industry - Mine and Trade, Chairman of the Board and Managing Director of the Islamic Republic of Iran International Exhibitions Company Dr. Zamani traveled to the UAE and Dubai on Tuesday, 22 June 2021.

According to the reporting by the Public Relations and International Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran International Exhibitions Company (I.I.E.C PR), during this visit, Dr. Mofteh met the Minister of International Cooperation of the UAE and Director General of Expo 2020 Dubai, Ms. Reem Al-Hashemi and emphasized that two neighbor countries have many cultural and religious commonalities and considered it promising for the development of future relations between these two countries. Also, the expansion of shipping lines between the two countries (passenger and cargo) during the expo exhibition, the need to open a bank account in one of the most reputable banks in the UAE in order to conduct financial transactions for an effective presence in Expo 2020 Dubai, utilization of production - export capacities and investments in different sectors of the two countries in order to solve the problems related to the participation of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the Expo 2020 Dubai were also among the issues which were negotiated in this meeting.

Deputy Minister of Industry , Mine and Trade on Commercial Affairs during traveling to the United Arab Emirates; Based on the coordination by the Consulate of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Dubai also met the UAE Minister of Economy and officials of the UAE Chamber of Commerce and emphasized to the development of economic and trade relations between the two countries in all fields of goods and services and proposed the establishment of a joint chamber of commerce and trade centers in the two countries as one of the most important strategies for the development of economic and trade relations.

Dr. Mofateh also visited the Expo site to get acquainted with the pavilion construction process of our country at the Expo 2020 Center in Dubai-UAE. In this visit, Khalid Al-Manaei (Expo Chairman of the Board) and Advisor to the Minister of Industry - Mines and Trade, Chairman of the Board and Managing Director of the I.R.IRAN International Exhibitions Company, Dr. Zamani also accompanied him and based on previous arrangements; they also visited the UAE pavilion, which is located in the Sustainability Zone in Expo site too.

Advisor to the Minister of Industry - Mines and Trade, Chairman of the Board and Managing Director of the I.R.IRAN International Exhibitions Company, Dr. Zamani also announced that the construction of the Iran Pavilion is being finished according to plan and under close supervision and the presence of Dr. Mofateh in the talks and visit the Expo as well as satisfaction of the Expo officials were a pleasant coincidence and also a sign of the serious efforts of the Ministry of Industry, Mine and Trade for setting up a magnificent pavilion of Iran in this global exhibition event.

He also mentioned the completion of this project in all matters, even the details related to the pavilion our country, opening the bank account and content approval of the Iran pavilion as among the final works of the presence of Iran in the Expo 2020 Dubai and acknowledged that we are preparing for the hall layout and content implementation.

It should be noted that, as mentioned before; one of the requests of the Iranian in these meetings was the possibility of opening an account in one of the emirates banks to pay the construction costs of the Islamic Republic of Iran pavilion and other related costs, which done by the cooperation of the Minister of International Cooperation of the UAE and Director General of Expo 2020 Dubai, Ms. Reem Al-Hashemi and his assistance and based on the coordination by the managers of Expo Dubai; a meeting was held in one of the prestigious banks in the UAE with the presence of Dr. Zamani; so, it was agreed to open an account for the I.R.IRAN International Exhibitions Company to expedite the related financial exchanges, and it was decided that the implementation process of this important issue would take place within the next week.

It is worth mentioning that, at the same time, other departments which are related to the expo, including the officials of Iran Mine House, as well as the Iran-UAE Chamber of Commerce visited the pavilion of our country and conducted the necessary researches related to attending on the Expo.

*Translated by: A.R Shafie