(a) whether India had participated in Dubai expo 2021 and if so, the details thereof along with States which participated in the said expo; and
(b) whether the official of the Government of Kerala was denied the permission to travel to Dubai for inspection of preparations of the Kerala State Exhibition Centre, if so, the reasons therefor?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
[SHRI V. MURALEEDHARAN]
(a) Dubai Expo 2020 is being hosted by Dubai from 01 October 2021 to 31 March 2022. It was originally scheduled from 20 October 2020 to 10 April 2021 but was postponed due to Covid-19 pandemic. The Indian Pavilion at the Expo showcases India’s growth and promise to the world economy; advancements in different fields such as S&T, IT and space; India’s art, culture, literature, cinema and cuisine; as well as different facets of the historic friendly relations between India and UAE. Various States, Government of India departments and private sector entities are participating in the Expo 2020 through the Indian Pavilion. The States that have participated at the Dubai EXPO 2020 so far include: Gujarat (1-14 Oct); Karnataka (15-21 Oct); UT of Ladakh (22 Oct-04 Nov); Telangana (5-11 Nov); Rajasthan (12-18 Nov); and Maharashtra (19 Nov-02 Dec).
(b) No, the delegation was advised to plan the visit closer to the dates of the State’s participation (24 December 2021 to 06 January 2022) to facilitate proper assistance for participation at the Expo.
***