Regular briefing on EXPO-2030 took place today, December 14, in Odesa. IN Media Center Ukraine Deputy Head of Odesa State Administration Roman Hrygoryshyn, Director of NGO "Public Council EXPO-2030 Odesa" Yevhen Levyenberg and Advisor to the Minister of Digital Transformation Yanika Merilo spoke about the state of affairs in preparation for the event today.
Roman Hrygoryshyn reported that on November 29, the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyi presented Ukraine and the candidate city of Odessa to host the Expo in 2030 at the 171st General Assembly of the International Bureau of Exhibitions in Paris.
"Along with the Ukrainian application, our competitors were also presented, according to my inner feeling, we were definitely not worse. Analyzing our work over the past nine months, we can confidently say that we not only fulfill the regulations, but also meet the status of the favorite based on the geopolitical situation, the materials we submitted, and our allies and partners, one of which is the world-famous architecture office Zaha Hadid Architec," said Hryhoryshyn.
According to the civil servant, Rome and the South Korean Busan have no chance - "I believe that Rome and Busan have little chance. The decision to hold EXPO 2030 will be either geopolitical in favor of Ukraine, or pragmatic in favor of Saudi Arabia's money. We are already supported by Poland. We also hope for comprehensive support from all EU countries. Some countries can be convinced by our strategic partners - Great Britain, the USA and France. And some countries will have to convince our ambassadors."
The final decision on the location of EXPO-2030 will be made in November 2023, during the voting of 170 countries of the world.
As a result, today's briefing was not very different from of the past, especially in the issue of publicizing the dossier of Ukraine for review, regarding which Mr. Hrygoryshyn once again promised to do it in the near future, as he did a month and a half ago.
EXPO-2030 is a chance for Ukraine, and unfortunately, the war may increase the probability of its holding. But on opinion Ukrainian experts, Ukraine is still de facto not preparing for joining the EU or organizing EXPO-2030.
"Yes, the application has been submitted, but now in Ukraine there is such a system of public administration, under which the necessary changes are not taking place that would bring the country closer to the EU or allow to prepare for the organization of EXPO-2030, - finds the head of the Department of International Economic Relations of ONU named after I.I. Mechnikova, Professor Serhiy Yakubovskyi, — This situation is caused by the fact that the same people who before the war were engaged in populist and financial-expenditure projects, such as "Big Construction", remained in the state administration system. And these are not the management personnel who will be able to stimulate the full integration of Ukraine into the economy of the European Union, a new perspective, approach and motivation are needed here."
