The Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Dato’ Sri Dr Adham Baba who is the lead Minister for Malaysia’s participation in the Dubai Expo 2020 has informed that the Pavilion at the expo will be retained and repurposed under the UAE government’s Expo 2020 Dubai 5-year legacy programme.
Showcased as the future hub for Malaysian technology and innovation the pavilion will be retained as government-owned and operated by a private Malaysian company for the next 5 years.
Dr Adham said the Hub will operate on a public-private partnership model where both the Malaysian government and the private entity can utilise this facility to host officials and dignitaries as well as a platform to promote technology-based products and services.
He remarked, “Malaysia Pavilion’s transformation into a Technology and Innovation Hub reflects our country’s ambition of becoming a globally competitive digital nation.”
A Steering Committee chaired by MOSTI Secretary-General Datuk Zainal Abidin Abu Hassan, will ensure the due diligence in selecting the right company to manage and operate the pavilion, the committee is tasked to appoint the right candidate hat meets the programme’s criteria and be a key player in the main sectors of smart city, smart logistics, smart mobility, or Industry 4.0.
Following this, the Committee will oversee the ownership of the Technology and Innovation Hub and ensure that it achieves what it has set out to accomplish.
Malaysia’s homegrown global drone company Aerodyne Group has also been selected to take over operations of the pavilion in the UAE.
Dr Adham Baba said, “Aerodyne Group is recognised as the global leader in the drone service sector. Their technological footprint extends to areas such as smart mobility and smart logistic sectors. With their capabilities and network, the Malaysian Technology and Innovation Hub will prove to be an invaluable asset for their growth in the region.”
Aerodyne Group will be utilising this facility as their second global headquarters.
The Expo 2020 Dubai 5-year Legacy Programme is part of the UAE government’s long-term initiative of repurposing the event site as an integrated mixed-use community known as District 2020 after the conclusion of the World Expo.
