Eighty countries, three million visitors and 2,500 volunteers are expected to converge at a venue spread over 1.7 million square metres in a mega event addressing an urgent concern – the mitigation of desertification.
After successfully hosting the Fifa World Cup for more than 3.4 million fans, Qatar is preparing to welcome the world again for The International Horticultural Exhibition.
“Being a desert country, Qatar is facing challenges brought by climate change, and aims to leverage this event to showcase cutting-edge sustainable technologies and solutions,” said Bader Al Dafa, the Commissioner General of Expo 2023 Doha.
The Green Desert, Better Environment event will be held at the sprawling Al Bidda Park from October 2, 2023 to March 28, 2024, and the activities will be centred around four themes: Modern Agriculture, Technology & Innovation, Environmental Awareness, and Sustainability.
Event Attractions
Discover Qatar, the destination management company of Qatar Airways, is offering complimentary entry vouchers to all international travellers for the duration of Expo 2023 Doha.
“Qatar’s efforts to enhance agricultural production through research, hydroponic farming, innovative irrigation systems, and renewable energy investments have yielded impressive results, as evidenced by its high ranking in the Economist 2022 Global Food Security Index, Mr Al Dafa said.
“These initiatives will be showcased to inspire other nations to adopt similar sustainable practices.”
In keeping with its theme, the event features GSAS green-certified venues and will be providing free pavilions to more than 35 of the world's least developed countries, Mr Al Dafa said.
It has also set ambitious environmental goals such as a 75 per cent recycling rate for construction waste as well as repurposing materials from the Fifa World Cup Qatar 2022.
“Desertification threatens the livelihoods of millions and contributes to environmental and economic difficulties. By focusing on sustainable innovations for the cultivation of trees and crops in arid lands, this expo aims to reverse desertification problems evident worldwide," said Dr Yousef Alhorr, founding chairman of Gulf Organisation for Research & Development (Gord).
“The significance of this event extends beyond Qatar’s borders.”
As the sustainability partner for the expo, Gord is responsible for developing sustainability reports from preparation through to operation and dismantlement phase of the event, as well as supporting the expo in implementing the green certification GSAS EcoLeaf for Expos and Festivals.
The event venue has an Innovation Centre which Dr Alhorr says is envisioned as a “magnet for researchers, innovators and industry leaders to explore the latest green horticultural solutions and collaborate on their wider adoption”.
The Expo will have an international zone, a cultural zone, a family zone, a farmer’s market, as well as a biodiversity museum, indoor domes, sponsors' area, and a grandstand arena.
“We are building a greenhouse that will show all the agri-tech that we have developed in the last 13 years,” said Nasser Ahmed Al Khalaf, managing director of Agrico.
Educational for all
Agrico will be conducting workshops for more than 180 schools where they will teach students to grow vegetables by making their own soil.
There are also plans for universities and private companies to conduct research during the six-month period and develop a model for a sustainable agriculture system to combat desertification.
“In the last decade we have seen a lot of terms such as ‘green’ and ‘sustainability’ being thrown around, but little is known about what they mean ,” said Ghanim AlSulaiti, who owns several sustainable vegan businesses in Qatar.
“Sustainability is about making the life process better. It includes everything from how we eat, how we commute … it is a lifestyle, it’s continuous work.”
And while he is excited about what countries from South-East Asia have to offer, he is “mostly looking forward to what Qatar has to say”.
“We are a small country. What works for sustainability in New York and Los Angeles will not work here. We have to create initiatives that fit Doha and Qatar, whether it is about food or renewable energy.”
GOLF’S RAHMBO
- 5 wins in 22 months as pro
- Three wins in past 10 starts
- 45 pro starts worldwide: 5 wins, 17 top 5s
- Ranked 551th in world on debut, now No 4 (was No 2 earlier this year)
- 5th player in last 30 years to win 3 European Tour and 2 PGA Tour titles before age 24 (Woods, Garcia, McIlroy, Spieth)
Teaching in coronavirus times
Company%20Profile
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In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Anna and the Apocalypse
Director: John McPhail
Starring: Ella Hunt, Malcolm Cumming, Mark Benton
Three stars
The Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index
The Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index
Mazen Abukhater, principal and actuary at global consultancy Mercer, Middle East, says the company’s Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index - which benchmarks 34 pension schemes across the globe to assess their adequacy, sustainability and integrity - included Saudi Arabia for the first time this year to offer a glimpse into the region.
The index highlighted fundamental issues for all 34 countries, such as a rapid ageing population and a low growth / low interest environment putting pressure on expected returns. It also highlighted the increasing popularity around the world of defined contribution schemes.
“Average life expectancy has been increasing by about three years every 10 years. Someone born in 1947 is expected to live until 85 whereas someone born in 2007 is expected to live to 103,” Mr Abukhater told the Mena Pensions Conference.
“Are our systems equipped to handle these kind of life expectancies in the future? If so many people retire at 60, they are going to be in retirement for 43 years – so we need to adapt our retirement age to our changing life expectancy.”
Saudi Arabia came in the middle of Mercer’s ranking with a score of 58.9. The report said the country's index could be raised by improving the minimum level of support for the poorest aged individuals and increasing the labour force participation rate at older ages as life expectancies rise.
Mr Abukhater said the challenges of an ageing population, increased life expectancy and some individuals relying solely on their government for financial support in their retirement years will put the system under strain.
“To relieve that pressure, governments need to consider whether it is time to switch to a defined contribution scheme so that individuals can supplement their own future with the help of government support,” he said.
TWISTERS
Director: Lee Isaac Chung
Starring: Glen Powell, Daisy Edgar-Jones, Anthony Ramos
Rating: 2.5/5
