Colombia, the world’s most biodiverse country per square kilometre, celebrated its National Day today (Friday, November 5, 2021) at the Expo 2020 Dubai, in the presence of His Excellency Iván Duque Márquez, President of the Republic of Colombia and His Excellency Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence and Commissioner General of Expo 2020 Dubai.
Several high-ranking officials from Colombia such as José Manuel Restrepo, Finance Minister of Colombia; and Flavia Santoro, President of ProColombia; in addition to Ximena Lobmana, Minister of Commerce Industry and Tourism, and the Minister of Transportation, Minister of Health, and the Minister of Environment and the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, and several dignitaries from Colombia and the UAE have joined the celebrations and attended the flag hoisting ceremony at the Al Wasl Plaza.
Colombia welcomed Expo 2020 visitors at the venue with a spectacular projection, showcasing the country’s rich biodiversity called “Colombia Country of birds” produced by Santiago Caicedo from Timbo Studio and the sound production designed by Carlos E. Garcia and Blond Indian Films. A visual presentation of Colombian birds accompanied by Amazonian shamanic chants in honour of the National Day enchanted visitors while several other cultural events, such as Ensalsate, a performance that integrated Colombian folklore and rhythms, Vallenato rhythm performed by noted vocalist Jeison Landeros also reflected Colombia’s creative and vibrant spirit.
With the theme ‘The rhythm that connects the future’, the Colombia Pavilion represents the nation’s diverse culture, creativity, passion for innovation, and prospects for a sustainable future in a 2,000 square-meter four-story structure. True to one of the sub-themes of the Expo 2020, ‘Opportunity’, the pavilion takes the visitors to an immersive virtual tour from multiple perspectives through its open and transparent building.
The pavilion’s design provides a unique experience to the visitors as they take an interactive journey through the picturesque Colombian landscape, enjoying the beats of Caribbean music and folklore. Besides enjoying the interactive virtual tour, the visitors can also savor authentic Colombian coffee, cacao, and taste other exotic fruits.
Colombia, known as the gateway to South America is considered a strategic location in the Latin American business market. Leveraging these features as a competitive advantage, Colombia is well-positioned to discuss innovative business partnerships and discover more opportunities for strong trade and investments on the global platform provided by Expo 2020.
