Kazakhstan's EXPO-2017 to Focus on Future Energy

This involves not only billions of dollars, which is invested for the preparation of the EXPO, but also, in turn, ensuring of the exhibition for effectiveness in the future. Nearly 160 BIE member countries voted for Kazakhstan to host this exhibition. It is a major responsibility to reach the goal and justify the hopes of other countries. The President of Kazakhstan has set up some challenging objectives; Kazakhstan needs to turn EXPO-2017 into the transit centre of the third industrial revolution, which includes the rise of an alternative economy and the creation of new, high tech materials, sources of renewable power and a skilled workforce.

Construction of the exhibition grounds will follow the principles of a green economy, using smart-power supply networks and buildings with renewable power sources. This unique and highly advanced building project will spur on the technological development of the country. Astana will not only get a new district with modern buildings and infrastructure, but also new premises for implementing innovative ideas after the exhibition. Most important is that new technologies and innovations will become part of the life of the country.

 

According toMr Zhoshybayev Rapil, First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan and Commissioner of Expo 2017, Kazakhstan guarantees appropriate accommodation and working conditions for the participants of the exhibition. Kazakhstan also will take all necessary measures to provide visa support, issuing visas for the representatives of the participating countries and ensuring the guarantees relating to customs and local taxation. The Convention on International Exhibitions was signed in Paris 86 years ago, which in turn established the Bureau of International Exhibitions (BIE) and set simple rules that specify the number of exhibitions, their orders and characteristics. The plenipotentiary representative of the country is needed to ensure these rules.

2015 is a crucial year for negotiating and signing participation agreements. Kazakhstan is holding meetings to discuss technical and other issues. In regards to the entry regime, Kazakhstan has piloted a visa-free regime for 19 countries: Australia, Hungary, Italy, Monaco, Belgium, Spain, Sweden, Malaysia, the United Arab Emirates, Singapore, Great Britain, Norway, the Netherlands, the USA, Finland, Germany, France, Switzerland and Japan. The residents of these countries will be able to enter Kazakhstan without a visa for up to 15 days until December of 2017.

 

Kazakhstan will expand the list of countries whose citizens will be granted visa-free entry to Kazakhstan. Kazakhstan has already identified countries with which it plans to sign agreements on mutual abolition of visas. Moreover, electronic and group visas will be introduced in the near future. At the same time, Kazakhstan is working on improving the system of border and migration control.

 

There are two bus stations and a railway station under construction, and construction of a new international airport terminal will begin soon. Kazakhstan is planning to build more than 70 hotels. The construction of exhibition pavilions and new housing on 173.4 hectares is planned and will be implemented in the next 2 years. The image of the city will be completely different by 2017. Implementation of the programme "Safe City" is underway.

After EXPO-2017, the exhibition area with its unique and innovative buildings will become a financial centre "Astana" with a special status that will operate on the principles of English law on the example of Dubai International Financial Centre.