The African Union on a Global Arena

Photo: Suneesh Sudhakaran/Expo 2020 Dubai

Africa is undergoing a dynamic socio-economic and political transformation. It is a continental market with 55 countries, and 1.7 billion people and growing. Also, the continent is home to several of the world's fastest-growing economies.

Expo 2020 Dubai will be the first World Expo in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA) region since its inception in 1851.

The purpose of the Expo is to bring participants and businesses closer to the world's fastest-growing markets and create opportunities for accessing a region of more than 3.2 billion people with a collective GDP of more than US$ 6.5 trillion.

The African Union (AU) has been designated as a key partner and stakeholder by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Government, which has offered a pavilion to the African Union and is committed to a strong spirit of collaboration and cocreation during every step leading to Expo 2020.

The African Union Pavilion provides an opportunity for the world to understand AU's institutional history, continental development and represents a platform for Africa to tell its story to the world.

In the pavilion, you will learn stories of, for example, Africa's achievements in different vital sectors, highlight opportunities for investment underlined in Africa's development blueprint and Agenda 2063 aspirations to capture the essence and progress of the continent.

The narrative of Africa has shifted, and Africa's stakeholders, its citizens, are seeking partners who aspire like them for a future full of possibilities and will work with them collaboratively to achieve the Vision of Africa's Agenda 2063.

Launched in 2013, Agenda 2063 is a strategic framework, Africa's Development Blueprint, for the continent's socio-economic transformation for the next 50 years. It's built on and seeks to accelerate the implementation of past and existing continental initiatives for growth and sustainable development.

The Organisation of African Unity (OAU) was formed in 1963 and advocated for African unity and solidarity and fought for independence from colonialism and apartheid. It was re-launched as African Union (AU) in 2002 to spearhead Africa's Development and Integration and comprises 55 countries.

The African Union Pavilion is located in the Opportunity District.