BIE signs See Agreement with Government of Serbia
The Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) and the Government of Serbia today signed the Specialised Expo 2027 Belgrade See Agreement. This agreement aims to facilitate participation in Expo 2027 Belgrade by serving as a legal framework to guarantee the privileges and special conditions for official participants in the next Specialised Expo.
The agreement was signed in Belgrade by the Secretary General of the BIE, Dimitri S. Kerkentzes, and the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance of Serbia, Siniša Mali.
Over 115 countries have so far confirmed their intention to participate in Expo 2027 Belgrade, with the signature of participation contracts set to begin in the coming weeks and months. Participating countries and international organisations will have their own pavilions at the Expo site, where they can each present their own interpretation of the theme “Play for Humanity – Sport and Music for All”.
Dimitri S. Kerkentzes, the Secretary General of the BIE, indicated: “The See Agreement is an important instrument in setting the stage for high quality participation in Expos, guaranteeing that international participants are welcomed with the best conditions. The signature of the Expo 2027 Belgrade See Agreement - following its approval by BIE Member States during the 176th General Assembly in June – is a significant achievement in the road towards a truly collaborative and inspiring Expo in 2027.”
Siniša Mali, the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance of Serbia, indicated: “The signing of the See Agreement represents a highly important step for the Republic of Serbia in the organisation of Expo 2027 Belgrade, as it facilitates the participation of exhibitors and enables them to carry out their responsibilities within the framework of the Specialised Expo. We are proud that countries from all around the world have shown strong interest in attending Expo 2027, and we will do our utmost to justify the trust that has been placed in us. We are fully committed to making the stay in Belgrade as smooth as possible for all participants and to ensuring they leave our city and country with the best possible impressions”.
The See Agreement – known as Accord de Siège in French - facilitates international participation in the Expo by serving as a legal framework in line with BIE rules. The first such See Agreement was signed with the Government of Spain ahead of Specialised Expo 2008 Zaragoza.
Expo 2027 Belgrade was formally recognised by the BIE in November 2024, following the election of Serbia as host country by BIE Member States in June 2023 during the Organisation’s 172nd General Assembly.
Organised under the theme “Play for Humanity - Sport and Music for All”, Expo 2027 Belgrade will be the first Specialised Expo to be held in the Western Balkans. The event is set to receive over 4 million visitors and welcome over 120 countries between 15 May and 15 August 2027.
Expos are global events that explore a chosen theme through engaging and immersive discoveries. Among the different categories of Expos, Specialised Expos are designed to respond to a precise challenge facing humanity and may take place in the interval between two World Expos. Specialised Expos are limited in terms of duration - lasting up to three months - and space - with the exhibition area not exceeding 25 hectares. The site is entirely built by the Organiser, Participants being provided with pavilion space.
The most recent Specialised Expo, Expo 2017 Astana, took place in the capital of Kazakhstan under the theme “Future Energy”, and received almost 4 million visits.
