Greece has decided to withdraw from the World Expo scheduled for next year in Osaka, Japan, the organizer said Friday, with the European country citing fiscal constraints.
It is the eighth country to drop out after initially planning to participate in the expo, to be hosted by the commercial hub of western Japan, amid concerns about the event's ballooning costs.
The Japan Association for the International Exposition, meanwhile, made a formal announcement that Ukraine, which has been under invasion by Russia since 2022, will join the event, keeping the number of participating countries and regions unchanged at 161.
Greece had intended to use the "Type B" pavilion, renting and exclusively using a facility constructed by Japan. The organizer said it will reconsider how to utilize the space in the future. The expo is slated to run for six months from April 2025.
So far, Mexico, Estonia, Russia, Niue, Argentina, Afghanistan and Niger have announced their withdrawal from the event. The organizer said Ukraine will take part in the "Type C" pavilion, which will be built by Japan and shared among participants.
© KYODO
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kurisupisu
The cost for setting up a basic pavilion is at the very least over 20 million yen.
Factor in staff, advertising, accommodation and flights etc and a hundred million yen would not be inconceivable.
How can Ukraine afford to take part?
marc laden
This is not an election or voting in the UN.... Those who have anything to display to the world will come...
Mickelicious
In-country refugees and the networks they've built.
I'm heartbroken that Niue (pop. 1,700) won't exhibit.
OssanAmerica
Well, nobodty cares if Russia participates. And nobody knows where Niue is.
Zaphod
kurisupisu
As long as the US pays for it, of course.