The Milan World Exposition will start on 1 May, with among others a special Belgian pavilion designed by architects Patrick Genard and Marc Belderbos. Because Ukraine cancelled its participation, Belgium was allowed to double its presentation space. Now, there will be a supplementary concert terrace, in addition to a large inside space, a restaurant, a chocolate corner and a Belgian bar.

"Because of the success at the Shanghai exposition in 2010, the number of Flemish participants has increased by a third", reports Claire Tillekaerts of Flanders Investment and Trade (FIT). Companies will get a half year's time to contact new foreign business partners and governments. Five years ago, attendance at the expo made the Belgian chocolate export to China almost quadruple in three years.