To start the New Year on a high, on the 4th of January, the Republic of Tunisia celebrated its Expo 2020 Dubai National Day with musical performances by Lotfi Bouchnaq whilst also making commitments to stronger bilateral ties between host nation, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the North African nation.
The event was honoured by a delegation led by Her Excellency, Fadhila Rebhi Ben Hamza, Minister of Commerce and Export Development, and Malek Besbas, Director, Tunisia Pavilion. Their Excellency’s were received and welcomed by UAE Minister of State, His Excellency, Khalifa Shaheen Al Marar.
“Tunisia’s participation in Expo 2020 reflects its desire to take advantage of opportunities for cooperation and partnership, especially those aimed at youth empowerment, while highlighting innovative projects by young entrepreneurs to disseminate a message of hope for progress towards a brighter future for all” remarked Al Marar.
“The long standing diplomatic relations between the UAE and Tunisia, dating back to 1972, are continuously developing at the political, economic and cultural levels. The UAE aims to work with Tunisia to bolster bilateral relations, including in the fields of agriculture, renewable energy and tourism for the good of our people, the region and the world at large” he concluded.
Her Excellency, Fadhila Rebhi Ben Hamza’s remarks emphasised the determination of the Tunisian government to carry out profound reforms covering all major areas of development, such as technology and communication vehicles, infrastructure, logistics, and the programming of renewable energy projects.
“We are determined to make the Tunisian development experience a success and to keep pace with the digital transformation to transform Tunisia into a promising economic and investment get away by drawing on the capabilities of our country and our people and the support of our friends and partners especially the UAE” she concluded.
World renowned and popular Tunisian artist, Lotfi Boushnak wowed the audience with his great voice, bringing an exciting end to the ceremony.
The celebrations continued throughout the day and ended at the Jubilee Stage late evening, with performances by some of the brightest stars of the Tunisian music scene, including Latifa, Zied Gharsa and Mehdi Ayachi.
The Tunisia Pavilion at Expo 2020, located in the Opportunity District under the theme ‘Inspiring Youth, Promising Future’, highlights the innovations and creativity of Tunisian youth. Visitors can explore historical and cultural sites in Tunisia through promotional films, and wear traditional Tunisian clothing, as well as experience the short multidimensional film that allows viewers to embark on a journey through time, starting from a vision of the future - ‘Tunisia 2050’ - to the present.
