Hamdan bin Mubarak welcomes UAE's winning Expo 2012 Yeosu Korea higher administrative committee membership

Abu Dhabi, Feb 12, 2012 (WAM) - Winning membership of the higher administrative committee of the International Exposition Yeosu Korea 2012, Expo 2012 Yeosu Korea, scheduled in Yeosu, South Korea from May 12 to August 12, 2012, furthers the prominent stature the UAE enjoys at such international events, according to Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan. Hailing the continuous support extended by the UAE's wise leadership to efforts to promote relations with South Korea, Sheikh Hamdan said the membership reflects the strategic partnership between the two countries. He said the UAE's win which was announced in Seoul last Wednesday at a meeting of commissioner generals is attributed to the success made by the National Media Council at international expositions. The UAE Pavilion at Expo 2012 reflects the UAE leadership's interest in enhancing the strategic relations between the UAE and South Korea. The World Exposition, which is being held in Yeosu, Korea this year, will focus international attention on our planet's oceans, seas and coasts, the UAE Cabinet Minister responsible for his country's participation at the biannual event has stated. "Given that the oceans occupy about four-fifths of our planet's surface, we need to think more in terms of Planet Ocean' rather than Planet Earth,'" added Sheikh Hamdan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Public Works and Chairman of the National Media Council (NMC). Describing the UAE Pavilion at Expo 2012 as a "ground-breaking effort to make a lasting contribution to Planet Ocean' and to the role of World Expositions", he noted that "the UAE is treating the event, both as an opportunity to showcase the country's heritage and achievements within the marine-related sphere and as a chance to share with other countries the UAE's experiences connected with preservation of coastal environments in a rapidly developing setting". The UAE's marine-related economy, encompassing fisheries, industries, trade, tourism and leisure, accounts for a very significant portion of GDP. Archaeological evidence confirms that for millennia the sea provided a corridor for wide-ranging cultural communications and trade, together with essential food supplies and valuable commodities such as pearls. The pattern of human settlement in the land now occupied by the UAE has been one in which the coast has been of prime importance with nearly all the country's cities situated next to the sea. Today's coastal developments in the UAE range from magnificent urban leisure areas such as Abu Dhabi Corniche and numerous marinas to man-made extensions of the natural coastline in mega projects such as The Palm Jumeirah. Hotels, resorts and other leisure facilities are under constant development and improvement, supporting a steadily rising tourism industry. The UAE Pavilion will entertain visitors in an engaging manner whilst informing them of some of the major issues that have been faced, and how these have been tackled. State-of-the-art interactive displays will present short movies on key subjects of natural interest, such as sharks, turtles, coral reefs, fisheries, mangroves and dugongs. Meanwhile a special six-minute film will take visitors on a quick tour of some broader topics as seen through Emirati eyes, including six new movie-chapters' titled: Celebrating Marine Life'; A Living from the Sea'; Connecting the World'; Energy for the Future'; Enjoying the Sea' and Open to the World'. Filming for these and other content at the UAE Pavilion began in early January and is now at its height. In cooperation with key organisations such as the Environment Agency, Abu Dhabi; Emirates Marine Environmental Group; Jumeirah Hotel Group; Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority; Tourism Development Investment Company (TDIC); Abu Dhabi Police Helicopter Wing and others, the country's marine zone has rarely if ever received so much media attention. "We are telling a very exciting and true story of how the UAE is managing and developing its marine zone", Sheikh Hamdan said. "We don't just wish to inform and entertain", he explained. "Our real mission is to inspire the general public, together with our business and administrative sectors, to play positive roles in securing our future by respecting and understanding this delicate environment." "Our Expo Pavilions have always tried to make a positive statement", the Minister told his guests, "this time we have decided to go one step further by creating an exhibition that we believe will have a lasting legacy in terms of both the message we convey and the scope of that message to bring about lasting change for the benefit of all people." The representative of Denmark was elected as the chairman of the higher administrative committee of Expo 2012 Yeosu Korea at the first meeting of the body last Wednesday. - Emirates News Agency, WAM