Major Intl. Horticultural Expo Planned for Baghdad

The International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH) has formally approved Expo 2029 Garden in Baghdad, marking Iraq's first AIPH-approved International Green Expo.

The approval followed an application process, site inspection, and a letter of endorsement from Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani, who confirmed the project as a national strategic priority.

Expo 2029 Garden, led by CEO Muhammed Ali Macitoğlu, will run from 1 October 2029 to 1 April 2030 on a 375-hectare site along the Tigris River, 25 km from Baghdad's city centre. The master-plan includes cultural gardens, national pavilions, renewable energy projects, and business centres under the theme "Green Light in Desert."

Organisers aim to attract 50 participating countries, 4 million international visitors, and 8 million from within Iraq. The event is expected to boost Baghdad's infrastructure, hospitality sector, and research capacity, with legacy plans to transform the site into an international district for culture, sports, and green innovation.

AIPH President Leonardo Capitanio praised the milestone as part of the global mission to place horticulture at the centre of sustainable urban development.