Malaysia blends tech with environment as it touts 'Energizing Sustainability' in Expo 2020 Dubai

DUBAI: Blending technology to create a sustainable environment for tomorrow’s world, Malaysia is creating a “Rainforest Canopy Pavilion” for Expo 2020 Dubai highlighting how those elements can be harmonized and utilized effectively to benefit communities.

The oil-rich Malaysia is one of 192 countries participating in Expo 2020 Dubai, the first to be held in the Middle East and North Africa region (October 20, 2019 thru April 21, 2020).

Designed by Hijjas Architects + Planners, a Kuala Lumpur-based and award-winning firm, ‘The Rainforest Canopy’ was inspired by Malaysia’s oldest rainforests which include the prehistoric rainforest Taman Negara, in Pahang, believed to be 130 million years old.

With the theme “Energising Sustainability”, Malaysia will highlight at the event how agri-commodities have shaped its socio-economic development and commitment to becoming a high-income nation while reducing carbon emissions as well as how the country’s diverse cultures, traditions and races are working together towards Malaysia’s progress with the help of a unified private and government sectors promoting sustainable development across all industries.

The Ministry of Energy, Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Change officially unveiled the Malaysian pavilion at the Expo’s Sustainability District under the guidance of Tun Dr.

Mahathir Mohamad who advocated for a building that will be sustainable in the long term.

Malaysia’s current forest cover is at 55.3 percent, or 18.3 million hectares of its total land area, exceeding Malaysia’s initial commitment to the Rio Earth Summit, which was 50%.

“Malaysia aims to attract USD2.5 billion in potential trade and investments, capturing 1,000 business leads with 20 memorandums of understanding or partnership agreements signed in our six-month long participation at Expo 2020 Dubai,” said said Dr. Mohd Nor Azman Hassan, Deputy Commissioner-General for Malaysia in Expo 2020 Dubai and Deputy Secretary General, Science, Technology & Innovation.

“Malaysia Pavilion provides excellent opportunities for world business communities and calls for business partnerships with our 200 organizations/businesses ranging from Sustainable Agriculture and Agricommodity to energy, STI, environment and climate change, culture, tourism and youth, e-commerce and ICT, trade and 4IR, women and community development,” he added.

Set to be a sustainable architecture, Malaysia’s pavilion will use energy efficient features including heli-fans to enhance airflow, self-shading and green landscaping with vertical gardens, solar panels and water harvesting. Materials used in building the structure will also be reused, once the pavilion is dismantled.