Ljubljana - Slovenia's EXPO 2020 pavilion will remain at the EXPO site in Dubai, the government decided in a correspondence session on Monday. The pavilion will remain at its original location, becoming a part of the District 2020 Dubai, to continue promoting Slovenia's economy and tourism for another five years.

The Ministry for Economic Development and Technology said in a press release after the government session that the pavilion will be adapted for future use. The ministry hopes the move will help Slovenia seize the potential of Middle Eastern markets.

The pavilion will become a centre for economic, business and tourism activities, as well as a place of socialising, the press release said. It will be the main point of contact for Slovenian businesses wanting to enter the markets of the Middle East, among other things.

Unless the pavilion became a part of District 2020, Slovenia would have to dismantle and remove it. The adaptation is estimated to cost EUR 300,000, while upkeep costs are estimated at EUR 40,000 a month.