Isaura Daniel, special envoy*
Brasília – Morocco is going to request support from Brazil for its candidacy to host an international exhibition. The Moroccan minister of Industry and Trade, Salah Edinne Mezouar, and the mayor of the city of Tangiers, Dahman Derham, will be in the Brazilian capital Brasília, from April 08 to 11, to discuss the matter with representatives of the Brazilian government. The Moroccan government wants the city of Tangiers to host the International Exhibition of the Bureau of International Exhibitions (BIE) in 2012. The BIE is headquartered in Paris and was established through an international diplomatic convention, with the mission of organising art exhibitions, following the principles of the United Nations (UN).
The BIE exhibitions have already become important events in world art. The first exhibition took place in London, England, in 1851. Currently, the BIE promotes an International Exhibition, held every two-and-a-half years, and to which Morocco is a candidate, and also the World Exhibition, held every five years. In addition to Tangiers, in Morocco, other candidates to hosting the International Exhibition 2012 are Yeosu, in Korea, and Wroclaw, in Poland. The choice will be made in December this year, through the ballot of the 98 Bureau member countries. Brazil is one of the members.
The Moroccan ambassador to Brasília, Farida Jaïdi, believes that the exhibition might take development and work to Morocco. The revenues from the exhibition are usually reverted into social work, in the fields of infrastructure and habitation, for instance. The exhibition may also help promote local tourism, according to Farida. Morocco has a goal of attracting 10 million tourists in 2010. Last year, the country received 6.5 million visitors. "Morocco would be a Southern country hosting the exhibition, the first African country, the first Arab country, and the first Muslim country," she said.
The country that hosts the exhibition also chooses its theme. Morocco chose the motto "Roads of the world, connecting cultures for a more united world." The idea is to show, through the exhibition, all sorts of connections between different parts of the world, ranging from roads and airplanes, by which people go from one place to another, to virtual contact. "Every possible path for countries to know each other and become closer," Farida said. The history of the "roads of the world," according to promotional material issued by the Moroccan government, also reflects the history of Humanity.
The International Exhibition features stands for all BIE member countries. Among the Arab countries, also integrating the BIE are Algeria, Jordan, Lebanon, Mauritania, Oman, Qatar, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen. The Moroccan government expects the 2012 edition to attract approximately 6 million visitors.
Minister Mezouar and the mayor of Tangiers will also visit other countries in South America that are members of the BIE to request support for their candidacy: Argentina, Uruguay, Peru and Venezuela. Mezouar and Derham will also have other activities, currently being prepared by the Moroccan embassy to Brasília, during their stay in Brazil.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
