Austria has reached an important milestone with the completion of the basic structure of its pavilion for Expo 2020 Dubai under the UAE authorities’ health and safety rules for construction sites in Dubai in context of the pandemic, a media report said.

"The postponement of the World Expo until October 2021 made it necessary to adapt the timeline for the construction of the Austria Pavilion," Austria’s Commissioner General Beatrix Karl was quoted as saying in a WAM report.

"Phase One of construction is now finished, with the completion of the outer shell," Karl added.

The ground-breaking ceremony on the 2,400-sq-m plot that is home to the Austria Pavilion was held in October 2019, and the first of 38 cones that form the pavilion was completed in spring 2020. The cones have a diameter of 7 m at the base, are between 6 and 15 m high and intersect one another to form space sequences of varying sizes.

A total of 246 prefabricated elements were connected by couplings to form the 38 cones. This will make disassembly after use easy, and will allow reassembly at a different location.

"Construction of Phase Two will last until the beginning of 2021. The exhibits, fittings, and furnishings will be installed in plenty of time before the opening," explained Karl.

Austria sees Expo 2020 Dubai as an opportunity to bring the world together following the impact of the current pandemic. "We must now take action beyond national borders and across the relevant disciplines to build a robust recovery together," said Margarete Schramboeck, Federal Minister for Digital and Economic Affairs.

She added that the World Expo next year will offer a unique platform for addressing open issues, potential solutions, and experiences gained during the global crisis and for drawing important conclusions.

"Austria will present itself as a reliable business partner and innovation hub in challenging times," said Minister Schramboeck.

"The coronavirus has also impacted Austria’s successful, export-oriented economy. Our participation in the World Expo in Dubai – with more than 190 participating countries and innumerable businesspeople from around the world – is an important step in getting exports back up to speed as quickly as possible. At the Austria Pavilion, we will present forward-looking products and services that are made in Austria to an international audience and will further boost the profile of our companies in the region," stressed Harald Mahrer, president of the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber.

The exhibition is being curated and run by Ars Electronica Solutions and büro wien. Around 100 Austrian companies are participating in the Expo, which still bears the name "Expo 2020 Dubai" despite its postponement until 2021. The theme of the Expo "Connecting Minds, Creating the Future" is all the more relevant given the current, unprecedented global situation.

Austria’s presence at the Expo is being financed with funds from the Federal Ministry for Digital and Economic Affairs and the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber.