Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
The Bureau International des Expositions (BIE), situated in Paris of which South Africa is a member, has given its approval to Portugal to host the next World Exposition in Lisbon from 22 May to 30 September 1998. The them of this specialised Expo will be THE OCEANS - A HERITAGE FOR THE FUTURE.
The South African Government accepted the invitation, extended by the Portuguese Government on behalf of the Lisbon Expo organisers, to participate in this prestigious world event.
"It is not only the South African Government that will benefit from the spin-offs from EXPO '98, but also the man in the street. For this reason South Africa's participation in EXPO '98 involves NGOs, GBOs, institutes, museums, local government, universities," Mr Anton Loubser, Director, Department of Foreign Affairs, said at a launch function at the Department of Foreign Affairs' Union Buildings offices yesterday.
The Interdepartmental National Steering Committee, the driving force behind the project, decided at the outset to portray the uniqueness of our two oceans and the impact which this has had on its history and people. This links in with the theme of LISBON EXPO '98, which is "The oceans - a heritage for the future".
In the light of this the following elements have been included:
HISTORICAL ASPECTS including a replica of Dias' cross (padrao), a canon from the wreck of the Sacramento, traditional fishing methods - fish traps and baskets; SCIENCE AND RESEARCH in the areas of ichthyology, ocean currents, minerals, climatology, antarctica, coastal zone management, the impact and management of water discharged into the sea; PROTECTION OF OUR COASTAL RESOURCES AND PEOPLES - SA Police Services, the SA Navy, National Sea Rescue Institute, SA Lighthouse services; ARTS AND CULTURE - arts and crafts from the provinces, dance groups will perform during the course of the exhibition; and COMMERCIAL ASPECTS - sale of SA crafts.
Participants include: universities, NGOs, institutes, private companies, Satour, local governments, the Departments of Foreign Affairs, Environmental Affairs and Tourism, Water Affairs and Forestry, Arts, Culture, Science and Technology, Sport and Recreation, Trade and Industry, and others.
Mr Loubser continued by saying that, "The Cabinet agreed to the country's participation in this world exposition, as approved by the Bureau International des Expositions in Paris and organised by the Sociedade Parque Expo '98 SA, Lisbon. It is not a trade show which can easily quantify the results afterwards in terms of sales, but it is an opportunity which the country has been given to show its quality and uniqueness. Over a period our participation will draw a flow-back into South Africa of tourism, investments, and trade."
South Africa's Ambassador to Portugal, Mr Kingsley Makhubela, will serve as the Regional Director of the South African exhibition. The exhibition will be staffed by 10 or more Foreign Affairs' officers, who will be trained to answer questions on subjects ranging from politics and economics to tourism, etc.
Mr Loubser concluded with the conservative visitor estimate to the exhibition which is estimated at 8 million, comprising 57% Portuguese and 43% foreigners.
ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS PRETORIA 20 NOVEMBER 1997