AKIPRESS.COM - India has a state-of-the-art pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai. It will showcase the country's talent, trade, tradition, tourism and technology, India Today reports.

At Expo 2020 Dubai, the world’s biggest trade and commerce bash, there is a huge buzz about India. At the Expo that started on Thursday, India has deployed the largest number of participants and has a state-of-the-art 8,750 square meter pavilion. The message is loud and clear: India is out to grab the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to explore solutions to challenges that impede its growth.

Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi while virtually addressing the Dubai Expo 2020 on Friday urged global investors to come and invest in India. Terming India as a 'land of opportunities', PM Modi said, “Today, India is a land of opportunities. Be it in the field of arts or commerce, industry or academia.”

Referring to the theme of India's pavilion -- 'Openness, Opportunity and Growth' -- Modi said today's India is one of the most open countries in the world -- open to learning, perspectives, innovation and investment.

"India also offers you maximum growth. Growth in scale, growth in ambition, growth in results. Come to India and be a part of our growth story," he said.

"As India celebrates 75 years of Independence in the form of “Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav”, we invite everyone to visit the India Pavilion and capitalise on the opportunities in the resurgent New India. Let us make the world a much better place to live with Sabka Saaath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayas," (with all, development for Allan with every on’e trust and effort) Modi said in his remarks on the occasion.

Modi also conveyed greetings on behalf of the government and people of India to UAE President and Ruler of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed bin Al Nahyan and to His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Prime Minister and Vice President of UAE and the Ruler of Dubai.

The Expo 2020, which was postponed for a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, opened on Friday and will conclude on March 31, 2022. There are 192 participating countries and 200 entities that have put up pavilions.

Confluence of Ancient and Future India

Conceived as a hi-tech structure, the India Pavilion is a civilisational confluence of ancient India and future India. The India Pavilion is a massive four-floor structure designed to enthral anyone who walks in with India’s popular exports including Yoga, Ayurveda, Literature, Arts, Heritage, Cuisine and Space Technology.

But the exterior of the pavilion is the real showstopper. The innovative facade is made of 600 individual kinetic blocks, each of which can turn on its own axis to construct a picture based on multiple themes. The installation is a manifestation of the overarching theme of ‘India on the move’ and ‘India the diverse’.

While the facade on two sides of the pavilion will have the face of Mahatma Gandhi, the metamorphosing front will depict the “constant change” and “timeless endurance” in the 75-year-old journey of the world’s largest democracy.

The zones within the pavilion are identified based on 11 primary themes - Climate and Biodiversity, Space, Urban and Rural Development, Tolerance and Inclusivity, Golden Jubilee, Knowledge and Learning, Travel and Connectivity, Global Goals, Health and Wellness, Food Agriculture and Livelihoods and Water.

Technology and Trade

On the ground floor of the India Pavilion, ‘India the modern’ is on display on the left. This includes the country’s knowledge and technological developments, from Mangalyaan (Mars Orbiter Mission) to Chandrayaan (Mission to Moon). On the right, there are displays about India’s ancient wisdom like yoga and Ayurveda.

The next floor showcases ‘India: The never ending opportunity’ with a focus on business, trade and commerce. There is a section on India-UAE ties.

Importance of India Pavilion

Viewing it as a long-term strategic investment, $ 66 million (490 crore rupees) has been spent on the India Pavilion.

India is among the few [countries] that have permanent pavilions. It will be a footprint in Dubai forever, even after the expo is over, and is a permanent asset for India in a major trading nation.

Indian government has also planned that festivals like Holi and Diwali will be celebrated at the India Pavilion. Since the newly developed expo site is going to turn into a city of the future, India’s presence there will give it a head start.

India-UAE Ties

With over 3.5 million expatriate Indians settled or working in the UAE, the pavilion signals the government’s effort to safeguard their interests. The UAE is also one of India’s largest trade partners and India is hoping for a big boost in exports and projects for Indian companies in the country.

The Indian diaspora has been present in UAE for more than half a century. To keep the connect alive, the India Pavilion will have digital projections of stories of Indian expats who have made a difference in the UAE. These include doctors, lawyers, artists and writers.

The pavilion’s potential to attract footfall spurred HSBC to enter a partnership as a corporate sponsor for the India Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai. This was done only days before the pavilion’s inauguration by commerce minister Piyush Goyal.

Meanwhile, BVR Subrahmanyam, secretary in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, said, “India’s resilient fight against Covid-19 and its emergence as a global business hub presenting huge opportunities for the world will be the overarching themes of India’s participation at Expo 2020 Dubai.”