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BelExpo

About Us

BelExpo, or the Belgian Commission General for International Exhibitions, looks after Belgian participation in international and world exhibitions organised within the framework of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE).

The purpose of world exhibitions has been shifting in recent years. What began as an opportunity to showcase the current state of industrial and scientific progress now places more emphasis on 'country branding'. The aim is for visitors to leave a pavilion with a clear picture of how that country positions itself in the world today.

A world exhibition attracts a very diverse audience, from tourists to families, business people and many more. Each of these visitors is looking for something different: from emotion and excitement to information and investment opportunities. Each participating country does its utmost to provide visitors with exactly that in its own pavilion.

BelExpo would have no reason to exist without the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE). The BIE is the intergovernmental organisation that has been responsible for supervising world exhibitions since 1931, with its headquarters in Paris.

There are four types of international expos organised under the supervision of the BIE: world expos, specialised expos, horticultural expos and the Triennale di Milano. The BIE now has 181 member states, including Belgium as one of its founding members.

The BIE has several responsibilities: selecting the host countries for future expos, providing candidate and host countries with access to its expertise in event management, national branding and public diplomacy, and regulating the organisation of the event.