Argentina celebrated its Expo 2020 Dubai National Day in style on Tuesday, with tango and jazz musical ensemble, Escalandrum, delighting the audience at Al Wasl Plaza, followed by a colourful chacarera dance show, and a performance by singer Guillermo Fernández at the Argentina Pavilion.
His Excellency Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan UAE Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence Commissioner General of Expo 2020 Dubai welcomed His Excellency Santiago Andrés Cafiero, Argentina’s Minister of Foreign Affairs at the official ceremony.
HE Sheikh Nahayan said: “Argentina’s participation gives us a glimpse into its unique identity, rich culture, and wealth of natural resources. It also shows its tremendous potential in the fields of science, space, renewable energy, among others, driven by its skilled and creative people.
“We believe in Argentina as a reliable partner in South America and in this regard, we aim to explore new frameworks for collaboration between our two countries, and look forward to witnessing our bilateral relationship thrive for our mutual benefit and prosperity.”
HE Cafiero said: “I would like to congratulate the United Arab Emirates on organising the first World Expo to be held in the Middle East and thank you, in the words of Sheikh Nahayan, for believing once more in the harmony of cooperation to realise a shared dream.
“In a world split by COVID-19, this Expo has been a light at the end of the tunnel shining, like the ring that His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, found in the desert, which inspired the design of Al Wasl Plaza.”
A trade briefing, titled ‘Discover the Wonders of Argentina’, was held at the Business Connect Centre in the afternoon, while the celebrations continued with an Argentine Short Film Series at the Opportunity Forum. Additional cultural performances in the evening included Argentine Tango Lessons at the Sun Stage and ‘Piazzolla plays Piazzolla’ at Dubai Millennium Amphitheatre, featuring Daniel ‘Pipi’ Piazzolla, the famous composer Astor’s grandson.
The Argentina Pavilion, located in Jubilee, uses state-of-the-art technology to showcase the nation’s beauty and diversity, allowing visitors to travel the country through their senses, from Patagonia to the Iguazu Falls, discovering a world of opportunities and the warmth of its people – with added tango shows/lessons and milongas.
National and Honour Days at Expo 2020 Dubai are moments to celebrate each of Expo’s 200-plus International Participants, shining a light on their culture and achievements and showcasing their pavilions and programming
Running until 31 March 2022, Expo 2020 Dubai invites visitors from across the planet to join the making of a new world in a six-month celebration of human creativity, innovation, progress and culture.
