Luxembourg recently organised an economic mission to the UAE and signed partnership agreements with UAE entities.

The mission concluded with a day dedicated to Luxembourg’s presence at Expo 2020 Dubai site which will take place from October 20, 2020 to April 10, 2021.

The mission was chaired by HRH the Crown Grand Duke and directed by the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for the Economy, Etienne Schneider, and in the presence of the Minister of Finance, Pierre Gramegna, said a statement.

This will be the 24th participation in a universal exhibition for the Grand Duchy.

The Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of the Economy, Etienne Schneider, said: “The Expo 2020 Dubai aims to promote innovation and sustainable development. This profile of the exhibition fits perfectly with the promotional efforts of Luxembourg and will make it possible to assert many skills 'Made in Luxembourg'.”

Finance Minister Pierre Gramegna said: “The universal exhibition will be an excellent opportunity for Luxembourg to showcase the innovative nature of the Luxembourg financial centre with the international community. In accordance with the motto of the expo ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’, our financial centre contributes to a world that is better connected and better prepared for future challenges by tracing the path of sustainable development.”

Luxembourg was the first country to officially confirm its participation in Expo 2020 Dubai which aims to welcome more than 25 million visitors, 70 per cent of whom will come from outside the UAE. Having been among the first countries to receive a building permit, work on the Luxembourg pavilion began in August 2019.

At the end of the press conference, three partnership agreements were concluded between Luxembourg and key UAE entities; these will enable the Luxembourg pavilion to function optimally during the duration of the exhibition, it said.

A partnership agreement has been signed between the Groupement d'intérêt économique (public-private partnership) Luxembourg @ Expo 2020 Dubai and the Jumeirah Group for the operation of the restaurant in the Luxembourg pavilion, said the statement.

Cooperation with the renowned international hotel chain provides for the provision of full catering services by Jumeirah, with the direct involvement of Luxembourg chef Kim Kevin de Doodt and the support of students from the Luxembourg Hotel and Tourism School (EHTL) of Diekirch.

For its part, the EHTL has concluded a general partnership agreement with RAK Porcelain Europe Luxembourg - the world’s largest producer of ceramics from the UAE. RAK Porcelain is one of the 6 official sponsors of Luxembourg @ Expo 2020 Dubai and exclusive supplier of sanitary ware, ceramic coverings and tableware for the pavilion.

The partnership is based on the exchange of knowledge and allows students and members of the teaching staff cooking and restaurant service of the EHTL to participate in training cycles on tableware. The partnership was concluded for a period of five years.

Finally, a memorandum of understanding was signed between the EHTL and the Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management (EAHM), a hotel management school based in Dubai and associated with the Lausanne Hotel School in Switzerland.

The agreement allows EHTL students and teachers to access the EAHM accommodation facilities for the duration of their stay in Dubai.

On the third and last day of the mission, HRH the Grand Duke and the ministers Étienne Schneider and Pierre Gramegna visited the site of the Luxembourg pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai. They also met the president and chief executive officer of Emirates Airline & Group and chairman of the Expo 2020 Senior Committee, Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, and Reem al Hashimi, Minister of State for International Cooperation and general manager of the Expo office, it stated. – TradeArabia News Service