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Yekaterinburg seeks to host World’s Fair EXPO-2020

Misharin expressed hope that the government in the near future will sign a decree on the setting up of the organising committee and on the bidding

NIZHNY TAGIL, September 9 (Itar-Tass) —— Yekaterinburg plans to compete for the right to host the World Universal Fair EXPO-2020, Sverdlovsk Governor Alexander Misharin said on Friday.

During his meeting with Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, the governor thanked the latter for the decision to bid for Yekaterinburg’s hosting of the global fair.

Misharin expressed hope that the government in the near future will sign a decree on the setting up of the organising committee and on the bidding.

While stressing that the government has already started to take the aforesaid steps, Putin highly assessed the current exhibition (in Nizhny Tagil) and said that “this testifies to the existence of good chances [for Yekaterinburg].”

Governor, in turn, promised that the region will do its best to win the hosting of the EXPO-2020 forum.

Misharin also offered to create a new federal military-technical expo-centre in Nizhny Tagil.

“Over 12 years, the city hosted 20 exhibitions, which were visited by more than 500,000 guests,” the governor said, adding, “I think it is rather realistic to create a new federal exhibition centre for the demonstration of weapons and military hardware.”

The prime minister supported the proposal.

According to earlier information, the Sverdlovsk region’s authorities assigned 300 million roubles (USD 1 = RUB 29.69) for the presentation of Yekaterinburg as possible host-city of EXPO-2020. The presentation of the Russian application is expected to be held in the format of the international fair assembly due in Paris in November 2011.

Russia never hosted this prestigious world’s exhibition over the entire history of the latter, the official said, reaffirming that Russia made an application for the hosting of the EXPO-2010 in Moscow, but China’s Shanghai won the holding of the global exhibition.

The World’s Universal Exhibitions take place in various countries every five years. In 2010, China’s Shanghai hosted the fair, bringing together representatives of more than 190 countries.

In 2015, the World’s EXPO will be held in Milan.