Baku, April 19, AZERTAC

“Baku is capable of hosting the World Expo 2025,” head of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) Enquiry Mission Jai-chul Choi has told a press conference on the results of the mission’s visit to Baku.

As part of the visit, the BIE delegation met with the high-ranking government officials and members of the working group on Baku’s bid for World Expo 2025.

Pointing out the key goals of the visit, Jai-chul Choi said the missions initial assessment is positive. “Azerbaijan and its capital city of Baku are capable of hosting the World Expo 2025.” He said the name of the host will be announced this November.

Acting Minister of Finance, Chair of the Bidding Committee Samir Sharifov said bringing World Expo 2025 to Baku would be another significant contribution to promoting internationally Azerbaijan, its culture and human capital. “It will further underpin the progress our country has made since independence. We have been proud participants in the Expo movement over the past decade. We are ready to attract audiences from across the world to showcase our achievements and share global knowledge between the many nations that will come to Baku and exhibit. Our theme “Developing human capital, building a better future”, will allow generating new ideas on improving the quality of life of the humankind through investment into education, health and employment.”

“For Azerbaijan hosting the World Expo would accelerate the development of Baku and in general that of Azerbaijan. In line with national development plans it will contribute to the diversification of our economy through creating business opportunities and new partnerships, developing tourism, building new jobs. Above all hosting World Expo would be a proud moment in our history, and we hope to have the honour of welcoming the world to Baku,” he said.

Assistant to the First Vice-President of Azerbaijan, head of the Azerbaijani Delegation to the Bureau International des Expositions Elchin Amirbayov described Azerbaijan as an active member of the Expo movement. “Azerbaijan have been actively participating in international exhibitions over 18 years. Azerbaijan’s national pavilions have won high prizes in various nominations at the last three exhibitions,” he said.

In his remarks, Deputy Secretary General of the Bureau International des Expositions Dimitri Kerkentzes hailed ordinary Azerbaijanis’ positive attitude to the exhibition.

The event concluded with a question-and-answer session.