Did you know that the Eiffel Tower was created for the World Expo in Paris in 1889? The structure featured in the Men in Black movie also originated from the 1964 New York World Fair. And remember the Stark Expo in Iron Man 2, where Tony Stark unveils the next generation of Iron Man suits? Let’s not forget the stunning China Pavilion at the Beijing Expo in 2010, which is now the largest art museum in Asia. Whether in real life or in fiction, World Expos typify the potential of innovation and the sharing of ideas. World Expos have a rich history of creating legacies, leaving behind iconic monuments and infrastructure across Europe, Asia, and the Americas. Next year, Osaka, Japan, will host the World Expo under the theme “Designing Future Society for Our Lives,” and Rwanda is excited to participate. Scheduled for 13 April to 13 October, 2025, the Expo will bring together nations to celebrate our common future, highlighting sub-themes of saving, empowering, and connecting our lives. Before the internet, sharing ideas globally during the Industrial Revolution was a challenge due to limited communication channels. To address this, World Fairs were established to bring together like-minded individuals to exchange ideas and showcase innovations. For many years, these fairs excluded the Southern Hemisphere and people of colour. For example, the Chicago World Fair in 1893 did not include African Americans and featured only Native Americans in its exhibitions. Over time, World Fairs have evolved significantly, becoming more inclusive and accessible. Notably, in the 21st century, expos have expanded to include the private sector and cities. The most recent Expo in Dubai in 2020 was the first to provide every participating country with its own pavilion. The Osaka Expo has taken this progressive approach even further, creating pavilion spaces that encourage countries to focus on showcasing their innovations rather than extravagant designs. This is a lesson learned from the Dubai Expo, where many countries went above and beyond in pavilion design. The next expo in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in 2030 promises to offer a standard pavilion design to every participating country, pushing nations to focus more on inventions and ideas. This shift reflects a move from the superficial to the substantial—creations that humanity truly needs. Rwanda’s first participation in the World Expo in 2020 in Dubai taught us many valuable lessons that we are ready to apply at Expo Osaka. In 2020, many local businesses found clients and investors at the Expo. Additionally, our local artisans gained market access not just in the UAE but across Asia due to the connections formed and products exhibited at the pavilion. For Expo Osaka, Rwanda has even bigger dreams. Rwanda is set to stand among global innovators, focusing on people-centered actions. Rwanda’s pavilion will spotlight recent advancements in fields like health and space technology while also showcasing Rwandans’ craftsmanship as well as our people’s efforts in conservation and sustainability. Rwanda’s story of overcoming adversity with homegrown solutions will be central to its display. And of course, Expo Osaka 2025 is more than just an opportunity to showcase innovations; it’s a chance for Rwanda to share its identity and history with the world. The pavilion will commemorate significant moments for our nation, such as Kwibohora 31 and Kwibuka 31—the commemoration of the Genocide Against the Tutsi. Furthermore, Rwanda’s presence at Expo Osaka 2025 will involve collaboration with other pavilions, including the signature pavilion and the AI pavilion, to showcase Rwanda’s talents, innovations, and travel destinations. Stay tuned as Rwanda prepares to shine at Expo Osaka 2025, sharing Africa’s contributions and future aspirations with the World. The writer is the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Trade and Industry (Minicom).
