The suspense is over: Tangier will not be hosting the 2012 World Expo. The final decision, which put an end to Morocco's hopes, was announced at 9pm on Monday (November 26th) in Paris. After months of campaigning to win the bid, Morocco lost out to a strong rival – South Korea. When the 140 member states of the International Exhibitions Bureau held a secret ballot at the organisation’s 42nd General Assembly, Yeosu won 77 votes, beating Tangier’s 63. The third bidder, Poland, had been eliminated in the first round after receiving only 13 votes.
The Moroccan delegation said Morocco had sought the World Expo not only for itself but also for the whole of Africa, the Mediterranean region and the Arab and Muslim world. Member Abdellatif Benazzi said the country mounted an exemplary campaign. "Morocco presented a vision of a future where individuals are at the heart of the development process. We believed in our values," he said.
Moroccan Communications Minister Khalid Nasiri expressed his bitter disappointment, saying that Morocco made a very credible effort and did all it could in the face of strong competition. "I feel my country has suffered an injustice. Morocco put in an outstanding bid; all those who watched the three presentations objectively believed Morocco’s was by far the most original and had the most spirit," he said.
Morocco still has every reason to be proud, Nasiri noted. "Plans to develop the northern region and the rest of the country will continue, with or without the Tangier Expo. These plans will support our nation and our principles. Whatever the outcome may have been, Morocco has come away from this with its head held high. Our cities will continue to develop," he declared.
Although Tangier residents seem equally confident that development of their region will continue, they were disappointed to learn their home city will not host the World Expo. Medical student Hakima Hachimi said the city’s inhabitants really believed in Tangier’s chances and never doubted that victory would be theirs.
"Morocco’s bid was a cultural one. It would have been the first African and Arab country to host a World Expo. The theme 'World highways, cultural crossroads: for a more united world' was closely linked to Morocco’s identity as a nation of sharing, tolerance and cohabitation of cultures and civilisations. It’s a real shame," Hachimi lamented.
Teacher Salim Moha was more optimistic: "Sure, the Expo would have boosted the country’s economy further, but the north will continue to develop – as you can see from projects such as the Tanger-Méditerranée port."
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