Shanghai Expo...Showcasing the best of British Business

UK Pavilion

Shanghai World Expo 2010 will be the most spectacular and important event of its type. With the theme of ‘Better City Better Life’ it is an Expo for the 21st Century. Being held from 1st May to 31st October it is expected to attract over 70 million visitors to the pavilions of the 192 countries and 50 international organisations represented across the site.

The UK Pavilion is a striking, visual demonstration of the UK as a creative and innovative nation and is designed as a gift to China. The centrepiece is a six storey high building, known as the Seed Cathedral, formed from 60,000 slender transparent acrylic rods, which extend from the structure and sway in the breeze. Each rod contains a seed from the Millennium Seed Bank project and during the day will draw daylight into the interior and at night light sources on each rod will allow the whole structure to glow. The Seed Cathedral sits on a landscape designed like paper that once wrapped the building and that now lies unfolded signifying the UK’s gift to China. Underneath the “wrapping paper” are a series of walkways that take the visitor on a journey through the UK’s past, present and future.

The UK Pavilion will serve as the centre from which a comprehensive schedule of business focused events and activities will take place either within the Expo Park itself, in Shanghai and other major Chinese cities, or online. China-Britain Business Council, UK Trade & Investment, England’s Regional Development Agencies and other public and private sector organisations are working to develop a programme which will reflect the UK’s excellence and diversity in the arts, business, culture, science and education. These events will provide an ideal platform from which UK businesses can proactively target key audiences and showcase their expertise and experience.

To find out how you can take advantage of this exciting opportunity please contact:
Rebecca Hickman
Expo 2010 Project Manager
Email: rebecca.hickman@fco.gov.uk

For further information on Shanghai Expo 2010 please see:
www.ukshanghaiexpo.com