Does the world need this?
Berlin’s bid for the 2035 World Expo has hit a major setback after Mayor Kai Wegner effectively withdrew the city’s candidacy. The decision sparked criticism from business leaders, while supporters continue to push for the event’s potential benefits. The Expo, a global platform for tackling worldwide challenges, could have brought €2.1 billion in revenue and infrastructure upgrades to the capital.
The campaign for Berlin’s Expo bid was led by groups like 'Global Goals for Berlin' and 'Expo 2035 Berlin GmbH'. They proposed using the former Tegel Airport site or land near BER Airport as the main exhibition area, with smaller venues spread across the city. Projections suggested the event would generate economic growth and long-term infrastructure funding.
Germany has only hosted one World Expo before—in Hanover in 2000. That event ended with a financial loss but left behind lasting developments, including Expo Park Hanover. The most recent Expo, held in Osaka in 2025, featured a landmark called the 'Grand Ring', now set to be dismantled and recycled. Berlin’s business community remains split on the bid. The Chamber of Industry and Commerce backed the plan, calling Wegner’s withdrawal 'grossly negligent' and urging a rethink. Meanwhile, the Association of Berlin Merchants and Industrialists showed less enthusiasm. Environmental activist Heinrich Strößenreuther supported the idea but warned against excessive taxpayer spending and soil sealing.
With the mayor’s decision, Berlin’s Expo 2035 bid appears stalled for now. The event could have brought significant investment and global attention to the city. However, concerns over costs and feasibility have left the project’s future uncertain.
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