Malta to take part in Hannover Expo 2000

by Anthony Manduca

For the first time in 30 years Malta will take part in a World Exposition to be held in Hannover, Germany between 1 June and 31 October, 2000.

Malta's participation was commissioned by the government following a Cabinet decision taken earlier last year and is being coordinated by the Malta External Corporation (METCO).

Malta's decision to take part in the Hannover Expo contrasts with the country's absence from the 1998 Lisbon Expo which is said to have annoyed the Portuguese government due to Malta's change of mind over its participation.

In 1996, Malta, then governed by a Nationalist administration, was one of the first countries to confirm its attendance at the 1998 Lisbon Expo but this was soon cancelled by the incoming Labour administration which cited financial reasons for the change of heart. Malta was the only European country which did not attend the Lisbon Expo.

Taking part in the Hannover 2000 Expo was also not on the then Labour government's agenda.

Participation in a World Expo gives countries publicity at a world level, not only directly through visitors to the national pavilion but also through the international press coverage that participants receive.

This is particularly important in Malta's case, because it is relatively unknown. Participation will give Malta huge publicity on an unprecedented scale for the five- month duration of the fair as well as for some time before and after the event.

Because of the central location right in the middle of Hall 15, the area reserved for pavilions of the smaller European nations, a high proportion of the expected 40 million visitors will visit the Malta pavilion.

Visitors will enter the Malta pavilion from Hall 15's central plaza. The adopted design, which is modern in concept, avoids the traditional enclosed box layout. Instead its design is oval in shape and consists of two floors laid along the diagonal line of the allocated area, covering a total exhibition area 1,040 square metres.

The external oval glass wall houses three inter-connected domes constructed out of warm and inviting natural materials in such a way as to make the whole site visually open and accessible, with the outer glass wall providing glimpses of some of the exhibited contents, deliberately laid to be visible and tempting.

It will also mean that people's movements inside will also be visible from the outside, thereby enhancing the "dynamic" visual effect of the stand.

Within each dome visitors will experience an audio presentation of one of the three components of the proposed Maltese theme.

Other recreations on the upper floor, reached via a spiral staircase from within the larger central dome or from either of two flights of steps accessible from outside the enclosed pavilion area, will continue to project Malta's ethnic and cultural roots through the medium of other audio-visual presentations, while a raised large scale map of the Maltese islands will incorporate light indicators showing places of particular interest.

The general objective of Malta's participation is to use this world forum to present all that is positive about Malta, as personified through the story of its people. In fact, the theme of the Malta Pavilion is a journey through the past and a flight forward into Malta's future.