The Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) has officially approved the State of Qatar hosting of the Horticultural Expo 2021, during the period from March 17 to October 14, 2021.

The formal recognition, approved by Member States of the BIE, was followed by the ceremonial handing of the BIE flag to the Minister of Municipality and Environment of the State of Qatar H E Abdulla bin Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Subaie.

The Minister said that it is very important to consider Horticultural Expo 2021 Doha as an incentive to increase the establishment of gardens, the development of horticulture and the cultivation of plants, flowers and trees in a harsh climate in terms of heat, salinity and drought.

The Minister also expressed his pride in hosting Qatar as an interactive and multi-purpose exhibition aimed at improving the natural environment at the global level, hoping that many countries will participate in this important and interactive event.

The Minister added that we will encourage countries to share technology and knowledge with countries that deal with harsh climates so that we can find radical solutions for the benefit of all, noting that as we live most of our lives in cities, we must look at the beauty of cities and green areas as vital and important.

For his part, Secretary General of AIPH Tim Briercliffe, said that Qatar hosting of the Horticulture Expo is a new opportunity to develop agriculture and greening cities in Qatar and the Middle East region.

Briecliffe added that the exhibition will be a unique opportunity for the world to explain how plants and afforestation can meet the challenges faced by the warm desert countries.

Briecliffe noted that they look forward to working with the Government of Qatar to make this exhibition a great event in the year before Qatar hosts the FIFA World Cup.

The Secretary General of the BIE, Vicente G Loscertales said that Horticultural Expo 2021 Doha will be the first gardening exhibition in the Middle East and North Africa region and will face the urgent challenges of desertification and sustainability at a time when global climate change is under way.

Based on Qatar National Vision 2030, Expo 2021 Doha aims to inspire and inform people about innovative solutions and reduce desertification, and will support the themes of modern agriculture, technology and innovation, environmental awareness and sustainability and to host the first horticultural exhibition in a desert climate region.

The exhibition site will also be transformed into an “international fan zone” for the 2022 World Cup and to the city’s main green centre, Doha Grand Park, after the expo. Since 1960, AIPH has approved 23 international horticulture exhibitions, recognized by the International BIE, where horticultural exhibitions aim to promote and support a more harmonious relationship between people and nature. The gardens displayed in these exhibitions reflect community cooperation, goodwill and its commitment to protection, preservation and promotion of diversity and promise of beautiful nature.

The International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH) has approved in March 2018 Qatar to host Horticultural Expo 2021 in Doha.

Source: The Peninsula Qatar