The BIE Enquiry Mission visited Brazil from March 11 to 14 for studying the São Paulo Expo-2020 project.

The BIE delegation had several meetings with authorities of São Paulo city, the state of São Paulo, Perituba region, representatives of Industry Federation of the State of São Paulo (FIESP), Labor unions  (CUT and UGT) and Student union  (UNE). All main aspects of São Paulo Expo-2020 dossier were analyzed during the enquiry sessions.

A day trip to Brasilia was dedicated to important political meetings. The President of Brazil Ms Dilma Roussef, the President of the House of Representatives, the President of the Senate and members of government unanimously assured the BIE delegation of official support of Expo-2020 project.

The BIE Enquiry Mission lead by the President of the Executive Committee Mr Steen Christensen visited UAE from February 24 to 28 with the aim of evaluating the Expo-2020 Dubai’s project.

First of all the working program of the BIE delegation included a series of meetings the Enquiry Dossier organized by Dubai Expo Higher Committee. Official and technical visits (Municipality of Dubai, Zayed University, Expo site, Dubai Port and Airport) helped the enquiry mission to understand the feasibility of Dubai Expo 2020 project, its strategy and its possible legacy. Meetings with UAE and Dubai authorities were crucial points of the agenda.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai with the President of the BIE Executive Committee Mr Steen Christensen

The BIE Enquiry Mission visited Turkey from February 10 to 15 to study the Expo 2020 Izmir project.

Several technical sessions dedicated to the main Enquiry Dossier subjects were combined with the visit of the proposed Expo site and meetings with representatives of NGOs, Union Leaders and business community, Presidents of İzmir Universities, Cultural Figures.

The last day of the mission was completely dedicated to high-level political meetings in Ankara. The President of the Republic of Turkey, Mr. Abdullah Gül, the Prime Minister, Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the Minister of Maritime Affairs, Communication and Transportation, Mr. Binali Yildirim, received the members of the BIE Enquiry Mission. The opposition leaders and National Members of the Parliament also met the BIE delegation.

The visit to Thailand by the BIE Enquiry Mission took place from 28 January to 1 February with the aim of evaluating the feasibility of Expo-2020 Ayutthaya’s project.

The program of the BIE delegates’ team lead by the Chairman of the Executive Committee Mr Steen Christensen included meetings with senior government officials, representatives of the opposition party, the business sector, and civil society groups. In order to respond to the delegation’s questions related to 14 issues identified in Thailand’s Preliminary Enquiry Dossier 5 sessions with the experts of Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau (TCEB), responsible for the candidacy of Ayutthaya, were organized. One of the key points of the agenda was the meeting with the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand Ms Yingluck Shinawatra.

The BIE Delegation received by the Prime Minister of Thailand, Ms Yingluck Shinawatra.

On the 21st and 22nd of November, the 161 member states of the Bureau International des Expositions will gather in Paris for the 152nd General Assembly. The main items in the agenda of this meeting: the preparation of upcoming World Expo in Italy, Milan 2015, the evaluation of the results of the  International Expo in Korea, Yeosu 2012, and the choice of the host city for the International Expo in 2017.

The BIE member states will vote to select the host city on the 22nd of November.

The Yeosu Declaration will form a strong part of the Expo 2012 legacy and will continue the work that has been started at the Expo.

It represents the peak of the forums held during Expo 2012.

Declare the following:

1. The ocean is a vital part of our planet and an essential element of human civilization. We call for global leadership to raise the awareness of governments on the need to better protect the marine environment, and to elevate ocean-related issues to the top of the global policy agenda.
2. We call for the international community to preserve and develop maritime cultures in order to enlighten all elements of civil society on the need for greater stewardship of the marine environment.
3. We call upon all nations of the world to cooperate in halting illegal practices on the sea, including piracy and hijacking, to preserve the ocean as a safe and effective transportation network linking the global community.
4. We call for concerted international efforts to undertake "integrated ecosystem-based management" of marine resources, particularly global fish stocks, to manage them in a sustainable manner for the benefit of all humankind.
5. We call for the overall scientific community to enhance our understanding of the ocean through expanded real-time ocean observing systems to provide resource managers and policy-makers with timely and reliable data, enabling rapid responses to the impacts of climate change and natural disasters such as tsunamis.
6. We look towards the ocean as a new engine of sustainable economic growth, in light of the gradual depletion of many land-based resources and the food security concerns of a growing global population. We call upon all nations to increase investment in advanced science and technologies and innovative industries that use marine resources and renewable energy in an environmentally-friendly manner for the prosperity of all humankind.
7. We call for increased assistance to developing nations, including small island developing states (SIDS), in addressing their ocean-related concerns and sustainably utilizing their marine resources through development assistance and investment, and international cooperation projects.
8. In this regard, we welcome the Yeosu Project, aimed at providing developing nations with capacity building support on ocean-related issues through professional training and technology-transfer, as an important legacy of the International Exposition Yeosu Korea 2012.
9. We also welcome the launch of the "Oceans Compact" by the Secretary-General of the United Nations, aimed at strengthening the capacity of the United Nations system to act in a coordinated manner in delivering its ocean-related mandates, with a view to achieving the goal of "Healthy Oceans for Prosperity."
10. In the spirit of this Declaration to provide the world with a new vision of "green growth from the sea," we call for all governments and civil society to work together in achieving our common goals for the ocean.

The second edition of the International Participants Meeting of Expo Milano 2015 opened on October 10, 2012 for three days in Milan, Italy.

The IPM is organized annually during the preparation of an Expo by the host country to provide the participating countries key information about this forthcoming event.

The organizer announced that 105 countries and international organizations have confirmed participation in Expo Milano 2015.

After Switzerland and Germany, the first two countries to sign the participation contract, another 13 countries have also sealed the deal with the organizers during the participation meeting.

The meeting is an opportunity to share information and discuss ideas among participants and discuss their involvement, theme development on “Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life” and physical placement in the Expo Site.

The organizers delivered a “Theme Guide” to the delegations, which is the first time that an Expo organizer develops such a specific detailed document providing concrete guidance on the theme development.

The meeting started on Wednesday with the Flag Ceremony in Galleria Vittorio Emanuele in Milan city center and continued at the Milan University (Università degli Studi di Milano).

Roberto Formigoni, General Commissioner of Expo Milano 2015, Vicente Gonzalez Loscertales, Secretary General of Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) and Manoj Juneja, Deputy Director-General of FAO attended the opening meeting.

The General Commissioner, Roberto Formigoni, said the next two years would be a period of “constant dialogue” whose arrival point will be a “final statement that will contain specific commitments we will propose to subscribe to all countries.”

Secretary General of BIE, Vicente Loscertales said that the success of an Expo is a shared responsibility between the organizers, the participants and the BIE. The Secretary General stressed his confidence of the event, and added "few events like an Expo can inject new life in the economy.”

Mayor of Milan and Special Commissioner of the Italian Government for Expo Milano 2015, Giuliano Pisapia, and the CEO of Expo 2015 Company, Giuseppe Sala, informed  about the progress of the Expo project.

The second day of the meeting focused on the theme and visitor’s experience. Group discussions in the afternoon were dedicated to official and non-official participants separately.

The last day of IPM 2012 focused on the relation between participants and Expo Milano 2015. Delegations discussed technical issues related to their presence at the event with the organizers.

The Italian Prime Minister, Mario Monti, addressed the public at the closing ceremony of the meeting. “The Expo 2015 is an exceptional opportunity for economic recovery. Certainly we will not be waiting passively for this opportunity,” said the Prime Minister.

Beyond the official program of IPM 2012, Expo Milano 2015 promoted a calendar of side events organized before and after the event on issues such as water and eating healthy food.

The International Horticultural Exhibition Floriade 2012 closed its gates in Venlo on October 7th. Held on the theme "Be part of the theatre in nature; get closer to the quality of life", Floriade 2012 has set up a substantive dialogue on issues related to principals of sustainability with an impact on the quality of life.

Together with Netherlands, 39 countries and 2 international organizations addressed and placed at the centre of their beautiful gardens and presentations the paramount issues of a healthy lifestyle, of a green economy and energy, of education and innovation, of a sustainable environment and of nature as a source of inspiration for culture, arts and entertainment.

The success of this Expo was confirmed by more than 2 millions visitors, 30 national and special days, 50 international trade missions and more than 300 B2B meetings and conferences held.

The site of the Venlo Floriade will be developed into the project of the Venlo Green Park – an ultimate cluster in which the business community collaborates closely with the world of science and uses consumer behaviour as an input for even more surprising innovations in agri-food industry.

The next International Horticultural Exhibition will be held in 2016 in Antalya, Turkey, on the theme "Flowers and Children: Green Life for Next Generations."

The Executive Committee meeting of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) was held on September 26, 2012 in Paris. Delegations from Expo Yeosu 2012, Expo Milano 2015, Floriade 2012 Venlo and Antalya 2016 Horticultural Exhibition presented reports during the meeting.

The International Expo 2012 in Yeosu, Korea, has rounded up on August 12, 2012 with 8,203,956 visitors during three-month smooth operation. 104 countries have participated in the Expo and 13,000 cultural and academic events have been held.

The organizing committee continues working on the post-Expo plans. The Expo site will be converted into a resort to continue the promotion of Expo theme “The Living Ocean and Coast” and to lead the regional growth of the southern coast of Korea. 

In Milan, the preparation for the World Expo 2015 is also progressing smoothly. Around 98 countries and international organizations have officially confirmed participation in the event under the theme "Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life", which counts 75% of the participants’ target.

The second International Participation Meeting of Milan Expo will be held from 10 to 12, October 2012. On this occasion, the organizers will present the “Theme Guide” to the participants.

It is the first time that an Expo organizer develops such a specific detailed document providing concrete guidance on the theme development. 

The delegation from Floriade 2012 presented the progress report of Expo that will close its doors on October 7^th, 2012. The representatives from Horticultural Expo Antalya 2016 also reported its preparation progress to the Committee.