Korea, UAE, Expo 2020 Dubai
Representatives from Korea and the UAE at the Expo 2020 preparations in 2019. Source: Invest Korea

Expo 2020 did not see a record 192 countries put in millions of dollars into their pavilions simply ‘for viewing.’ South Korea, for example, is hoping to boost its trade with the UAE during this time after the pandemic put a damper on it. The Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) is planning on pulling out all the stops in the form of business events throughout Expo 2020 as it tries to rescue 27% of its Arab world trading opportunity.

Country number two on the list of “enhanced trade” is India. The UAE is pushing for $100 billion worth of trade with the country over the coming five years. India was already the UAE’s second-largest trading partner with $40 billion in imports and exports, again until the pandemic did a number on that. Expo 2020 might just be the mingling time they need to get things back on track aside from the plans already in place.

We, of course, cannot forget about the businesses that have been gaining momentum since the expo started just 11 days ago. Who knew all they needed was a global event to up their confidence to the third highest level it’s seen in a decade? Or that the UAE’s economy would increase 3.1% in a matter of three months, and that Dubai’s economy specifically would also see the same hike? This six-month long expo is doing wonders and it hasn't been two weeks yet.