Saudi Arabia in the running to organize World Expo 2030, a major challenge for the Gulf country
In a frantic race to organize World Expo 2030, Saudi Arabia is positioning itself as a serious candidate and is counting on the support of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to win this prestigious competition.
During a recent meeting between the envoy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Ahmed Bin Abdulaziz Qattan, and the President of the DRC, Felix Tshisekedi, the two parties discussed the possible cooperation between the two countries. Saudi Arabia has notably expressed its intention to invest in the DRC, particularly in the fields of energy, agriculture, tourism and mining.
But beyond this desire for economic cooperation, Saudi Arabia sees the DRC as a potential ally to obtain the necessary support in its candidacy for the organization of World Expo 2030. This world exhibition, which is held every five years, is a major event that allows countries to present their technological, cultural and economic advances to an international audience.
If Saudi Arabia hopes to obtain the support of the DRC, it will also have to convince the other members of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) who will be responsible for choosing the organizing country during the meeting scheduled for November 2023 in Paris. The competition is fierce, with other countries in contention such as Argentina, Poland and the United States.
The organization of the Universal Expo is an important issue for Saudi Arabia, which wishes to position itself as a leading tourist and economic destination. The Gulf country is investing heavily in diversifying its economy and seeking to attract foreign investors. The Universal Expo would be a perfect showcase to highlight the country’s progress and attract the attention of the whole world.
The Democratic Republic of Congo, for its part, sees in this cooperation with Saudi Arabia an opportunity to strengthen its economic ties and benefit from investments in key sectors. However, the country will also have to weigh the pros and cons of this partnership, including ensuring that the interests of the DRC and its people are taken into account.
In conclusion, Saudi Arabia’s candidacy for the organization of World Expo 2030 raises great expectations. If the support of the DRC can play a determining role, the competition remains open and only the meeting of the BIE in November 2023 will determine the country which will host this world event. In the meantime, Saudi Arabia and the DRC are working on strengthening their bilateral relations and continuing to explore opportunities for economic cooperation