The Tribune

Aliv has become the title sponsor for the Bahamas Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai, which is expected to attract attendees from 192 countries between October 20, 2020, to April 10, 2021.

Damian Blackburn, Aliv’s top executive, said of the sponsorship deal: “As a company that stands on pillars that heavily focus on quality service - a quality network, exceptional customer service and, in this respect, most importantly, innovation, we could not have been more eager to stand in the gap.

“Innovation across all sectors - be it technology, finance, health or education - remains at the forefront of everything we do locally. We always seek to highlight Bahamian innovators and welcome any opportunity we see as a step up or a door open for Bahamian innovation to the world.

“Aliv see this as more than just another Expo, but rather an important cultural milestone that simultaneously allows us to support the work of a pioneering group of individuals. Aliv also hopes to use this occasion to further show how we as a growing telecommunications provider can use telecoms and technology to highlight the best of The Bahamas on a global scale.”

Two Bahamian delegations visited Dubai between November 15-21, 2019, and November 22 to December 1, for a series of meetings that focused on financial services and business opportunities as well as this nation’s presence at the upcoming Expo.

The first half delegation was led by Elsworth Johnson, minister of financial services, trade and industry and Immigration, and included members of the Bahamas Financial Services Board (BFSB), Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employers Confederation (BCCEC), Gonet Bank and Trust and representatives from Ansbacher, Leno Bahamas and Credit Suisse Trust.

They attended the BFSB’s Landfall breakfast briefing, STEP Arabia 2019 and meetings with the Dubai Chamber of Commerce, Dubai Financial Market and a visit to the Expo 2020 site.

The second delegation included Tony Joudi, The Bahamas’ non-resident ambassador to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the state of Qatar; Dr Tyrone McKenzie, Bahamas Pavilion consultant; and Michael Diggiss, Bahamas Pavilion senior project manager. They attended the final international participant meeting (IPM 2019) before Expo 2020.