The ACT set to reveal a better city and better life at 2010 Shanghai World Expo
Since their inception in 1851, World Expos have been about promoting the exchange of ideas and development of the world economy, culture, science and technology, allowing exhibitors to publicise and display their achievements and improve international relationships.
Next year’s 2010 Shanghai World Expo is fast building up to be the biggest Expo in the history of World Expos. With 229 nations and international organisations participating and between 70-80 million visitors, mainly mainland Chinese, expected to attend, the Expo is set to surpass the Beijing Olympics in terms of its ability to showcase and expose, over a sustained period, the host country and participating nations to a diverse array of cultures within dynamic and fluid environments.
The Australian Government’s investment in the Shanghai Expo is significant, representing the largest investment Australia has ever made in a world Expo. The federal government has certainly grasped the enormity of the event and its potential to change perceptions and showcase technically innovative, culturally diverse and intensely creative Australian communities.
The ACT Government entered into a silver category partnership agreement with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) early this year to sponsor the Australian Pavilion. The ACT joins six other Australian states and territories all vying for the attention of the 38,000 people expected to traverse through the pavilion on each of the 184 days of the expo.
The ACT and surrounding region’s involvement in the Expo is firmly grounded in the strong people-to-people ties which have been developed over time between Canberreans and Chinese, particularly through the 15 years of Canberra Beijing sister city relations.
The ACT Government is keen to project a contemporary, innovative and technologically advanced image of Canberra through cultural and thematic exhibits, capability demonstrations, trade missions and the use of education scholarships and exchanges.
The Shanghai Expo’s theme ‘Better City, Better Life’ is tailor-made for spectacular contributions showcasing Canberra and the surrounding region. The preliminary business program prepared by the Dept. of Foreign Affairs and Trade includes fifteen key industry sectors’. At least eight of these sectors are areas of significant competitive strength for Canberra and the surrounding region
Tourism
Education
Design, construction and urban planning
Arts, culture and creative industries
The business of sport
Smart technology
Clean energy and environmental technology
ICT
The ACT needs to look at making the most of its involvement at the Expo by shaping its contribution around each of these eight industry sectors.
Several ideas could be to use the Expo to showcase the ACT’s strong connection with the environment through award winning urban planning and sustainable living designs. Alternatively, the ACT could explore through, photographic and literary documentation, how the ACT Government, indigenous organisations, agri-business, environmental researchers and community groups express their awareness of ‘custodianship’ for the environment – a convergence of traditional and modern views.
Another idea would be to focus on how Canberra’s science, research and learning institutions have helped to meet global challenges. Identifying world firsts from CSIRO and cutting edge research from the Australian National University would be a way to position the ACT as an education destination. The Australian Institute of Sport could design an interactive areas to trial advanced fitness diagnostics, bio mechanics and sports physiology equipment.
To gain maximum leverage from the ACT’s participation at next year’s Expo, the ACT Exporters’ Network has convened a focus group to canvass the business community’s views on how the ACT international business community engages in and around the various sector based trade and investment activities and events taking place at the Expo.
Better city, better life at 2010 Expo
The ACT set to reveal a better city and better life at 2010 Shanghai World Expo
Since their inception in 1851, World Expos have been about promoting the exchange of ideas and development of the world economy, culture, science and technology, allowing exhibitors to publicise and display their achievements and improve international relationships.
Next year’s 2010 Shanghai World Expo is fast building up to be the biggest Expo in the history of World Expos. With 229 nations and international organisations participating and between 70-80 million visitors, mainly mainland Chinese, expected to attend, the Expo is set to surpass the Beijing Olympics in terms of its ability to showcase and expose, over a sustained period, the host country and participating nations to a diverse array of cultures within dynamic and fluid environments.
The Australian Government’s investment in the Shanghai Expo is significant, representing the largest investment Australia has ever made in a world Expo. The federal government has certainly grasped the enormity of the event and its potential to change perceptions and showcase technically innovative, culturally diverse and intensely creative Australian communities.
The ACT Government entered into a silver category partnership agreement with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) early this year to sponsor the Australian Pavilion. The ACT joins six other Australian states and territories all vying for the attention of the 38,000 people expected to traverse through the pavilion on each of the 184 days of the expo.
The ACT and surrounding region’s involvement in the Expo is firmly grounded in the strong people-to-people ties which have been developed over time between Canberreans and Chinese, particularly through the 15 years of Canberra Beijing sister city relations.
The ACT Government is keen to project a contemporary, innovative and technologically advanced image of Canberra through cultural and thematic exhibits, capability demonstrations, trade missions and the use of education scholarships and exchanges.
The Shanghai Expo’s theme ‘Better City, Better Life’ is tailor-made for spectacular contributions showcasing Canberra and the surrounding region. The preliminary business program prepared by the Dept. of Foreign Affairs and Trade includes fifteen key industry sectors’. At least eight of these sectors are areas of significant competitive strength for Canberra and the surrounding region
The ACT needs to look at making the most of its involvement at the Expo by shaping its contribution around each of these eight industry sectors.
Several ideas could be to use the Expo to showcase the ACT’s strong connection with the environment through award winning urban planning and sustainable living designs. Alternatively, the ACT could explore through, photographic and literary documentation, how the ACT Government, indigenous organisations, agri-business, environmental researchers and community groups express their awareness of ‘custodianship’ for the environment – a convergence of traditional and modern views.
Another idea would be to focus on how Canberra’s science, research and learning institutions have helped to meet global challenges. Identifying world firsts from CSIRO and cutting edge research from the Australian National University would be a way to position the ACT as an education destination. The Australian Institute of Sport could design an interactive areas to trial advanced fitness diagnostics, bio mechanics and sports physiology equipment.
To gain maximum leverage from the ACT’s participation at next year’s Expo, the ACT Exporters’ Network has convened a focus group to canvass the business community’s views on how the ACT international business community engages in and around the various sector based trade and investment activities and events taking place at the Expo.
For more information on the 2010 Shanghai World Expo please visit the website www.australianpavilion.com.au