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Japan breaks ground at Expo 2020 site

Japan has broke ground for its pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai, officially marking the beginning of construction.
The ground-breaking was done by Akihiko Nakajima, Japanese Ambassador to the UAE; Akima Umezawa, consul general of Japan in Dubai; Tomiyasu Nakamura, commissioner general of the Japan Pavilion; and Najeeb Mohammed Al Ali, executive director of the Dubai Expo 2020 Bureau, in the presence of other guests.
Preparations for exhibits at the Japan pavilion are underway under the leadership of the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, co-organised by the Ministry of International affairs and Communications, and other ministries.
The design and construction focuses on 'Connection between the Middle East and Japan' and 'Sustainability'. It was designed by Yuko Nagayama, director of Yuko Nagayama and Associates and NTT facilities.
Obayashi Middle East Construction was awarded the contract to build the Japan Pavilion. The facade of the Pavilion will combine Arabesque and Asanoha patterns, representing the long history of connections and crossing of cultures between Japan and the Middle East. Guests will be welcomed by a three-dimensional facade, which draws inspiration from Japanese Origami shapes that symbolise the respect shown to others through the Japanese art of Origata gift wrapping.
In keeping with the emphasis on sustainability, the pavilion will utilise an environmentally-friendly, natural cooling mechanism inspired by traditional Arabic and Japanese technologies - windcathers and uchimizu.
Singapore joins mega event
Meanwhile, Singapore on Wednesday has announced its participation in Expo 2020 Dubai, with its pavilion under the theme 'Nature. Nurture. Future', which will pay tribute to the country's journey towards growth, sustainability, and resilience.
The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) will lead Singapore's participation in the Expo, coordinating with partners from the public and private sectors. The Singapore pavilion will occupy a 1,550 sqm site within the Sustainability District of the 4.38 sqkm Expo 2020 site in Dubai South.
"The Singapore pavilion is centred on our country's guiding ethos of sustainable growth where we can have both economic growth and a high-quality living environment," URA CEO Lim Eng Hwee said. "We invite Singapore businesses and organisations to play a part in realising the Singapore pavilion and reach out to a global audience in the dynamic Measa region."
- business@khaleejtimes.com