Indonesia becomes first Southeast Asian nation to publicly announce

Indonesia, Southeast Asia’s most populous nation, has announced its commitment to participate in Expo 2020 Dubai, becoming the first Southeast Asian nation to publicly confirm its participation in the event building on strong links with the UAE, Bureau Dubai Expo 2020 announced on Monday.

Indonesia's confirmation came in a letter from the President of Indonesia Joko Widodo addressed to His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

The letter was delivered to Reem bint Ibrahim Al Hashemi, UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation, and Director General, Bureau Dubai Expo 2020, by the Ambassador of Indonesia to the UAE, Husin Bagis.

This confirmation signifies the latest milestone in the deepening relationship between the UAE and Indonesia, Expo 2020 said.

As the first Southeast Asian nation to publicly confirm its participation, Indonesia’s agreement also represents progress made by Expo 2020 Dubai in engagement with Southeast Asia, a key region for international outreach. Indonesia is the world’s fourth-largest nation by population, underscoring its significance as a market, it noted.

"Expo 2020 Dubai is a chance for the UAE to build stronger bonds with Southeast Asia and the entire world and we are thrilled that Indonesia will be participating. The ties between the UAE and Indonesia are deep and we hope to build on that relationship further in the coming years. With the fourth largest population in the world and a growing and vibrant middle class, Indonesia is an exciting addition to the World Expo," Minister Al Hashemi said.

"Indonesia and the UAE enjoy a rich history of connection - through trade, commerce, diplomatic relations, and a shared culture and heritage. We are delighted to announce our participation in Expo 2020 Dubai, whose core theme of ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’ reflects our own belief that collaboration and cooperation can help forge a better world. Indonesia will proudly join Expo 2020 Dubai’s prestigious platform, which will facilitate both the creation of partnerships and the exchange of knowledge and expertise in order to address the global challenges of the 21st century," Ambassador of Indonesia Husin Bagis said.

Indonesia and the UAE enjoy strong trade and tourism links with bilateral trade between them reaching AED 11.75 billion in 2015. Tourism between the two countries is also growing, with Emirates Airline and Etihad Airways having direct flights to the Indonesian capital city of Jakarta. Emirates Airline launched its daily service to Bali in 2015.

Expo 2020 Dubai is guided by the belief that innovation and progress are the result of people and ideas combining in new ways. Over the course of six months from October 2020, Expo aims to bring together hundreds of countries and millions of people to celebrate human ingenuity: ‘Connecting Minds; Creating the Future’.