Clean Energy Theme of Expo
Kazakhstan Beats Belgium in the Race to Hold the Expo
From Ameya Sathaye / Editor in Chief of sarkaritel.com/DiplomacyIndia.com
Astana (Kazakhstan), Dec 24: Astana, the capital of the Central Asian state Kazakhstan, will play host to the 2017 Expo which will focus on the energy challenges facing the world and Clean Energy as a major solution. Expo 2017 will be held from June 10 to September 10 2017. The theme of the exhibition is “Future Energy”.
The symbolic flag for authorising Kazakhstan, chosen over its closest rival Belgium, to host the Expo was handed over to Kazakh Minister of Foreign Affairs Erlan Idrissov during a ceremony at the General Assembly of the Bureau for International Exhibitions, at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) headquarters in Paris.
The International Exhibitions Bureau chose Astana over the Belgian town of Liège in November, and officially recognised Astana as the host city of Expo 2017 in June, presenting Kazakhstan with the flag of the exhibition. This marked the official start of preparations for the exhibition.
The theme of the Astana Expo will be green energy, and organisers say they hope it will draw attention to sustainable development, renewable energy, and energy efficiency in Central Asia and the CIS. Kazakh power companies intend to dot the city with 100 wind turbines to make a “contribution to the inimitable look of the capital.” A solid waste-recycling plant, facilities to process rainwater and sewage, and a $100m solar power station with a capacity of 50 MW are also planned.
Speaking to EuroNews on Expo 2017 importance for Kazakhstan because of the role the country was playing in the region, Erlan Idrissov said : “ We are proud that Kazakhstan has been chosen as the place to hold this exhibition. This is the first time the exhibition takes place in the former post Soviet space in central Asia, that will bring global attention not only to the issues of growth in our part of the world but also to the issues of global energy challenges. We believe that Expo 2017 will become a catalyst and a platform for brainstorming new ideas, new approaches to future energy.”
“We’re expecting participation from more than 100 countries and 10 international organisations, he said adding, “It will promote the sharing of innovative technologies. I think Astana will be the birthplace of all the new advancements in science, technology and energy in the future.”
Kazakhstan’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Commissioner of EXPO-2017, Rapil Zhoshybayev, said that to date, about 10 countries have confirmed their participation at the exhibition. “On behalf of the head of state, we have sent invitations to over 140 countries, as well as 12 international organizations through diplomatic channels. Currently, the negotiation process on participation of these countries is underway.”
The Deputy Foreign Minister told this correspondent that the country was now transitioning into a green economy. Tourist flow was expected to be high at local level during the Expo. The Expo, he said, will provide impetus to hotel business, service sector, and lead to development of small and medium scale industry creating more jobs.
The Nation’s Railways, long distance transport system, the airport at Astana, all of these will be considerably upscaled to international standards while improving the communication system in the country. The Minister said Kazakhstan enjoyed the 12 position in the oil sector globally and was the 4th largest uranium exporter. The country also had abundant coal reserves.
In 2012, President Nazarbayev, while addressing the United Nations, introduced the global energy concept as the model for sustainable development. He set 2030 as the deadline to work on a National programme and invest 50 mn dollars in renewable energy and to reduce hydrocarbon emissions levels. As part of the Expo, Kazakh government is also developing wind energy stations of 45 mw and 300 MW capacity at a site, 180 kms from Astana
The minister said that he had started inviting business and scientific circles to participate in expo 2017 around the world. He was expecting around 15 confirmations this year. By 2015, 80 countries next year would confirm participation and in 2016, 38 more countries would follow suit.
Azerbaijan is among the first central Asian countries to confirm participation as early October 2014.
Till date, a Kazakh delegation has visited 60 countries and this process will continue. “I believe that we will visit over 80 countries in 2015 and get confirmation of their participation. We plan to travel to 30-35 countries in 2016 and invite them to the exhibition.”
Out of 161 members affiliated to the International Bureau of Exhibitions’, 103 favoured Astana’s bid over the Belgian city of Liège. The press-service of JSC “Astana EXPO-2017” reported that the total area of the exhibition complex will be 174 acres, and the facilities constructed will cover over one million square meters.
According to the management of the national “Astana EXPO-2017”, major construction works are planned from May 2014 to December 2016. The Master Plan was developed together with the German “Albert Spier” company and approved by the head of state.
A national pavilion, international, corporate and themed pavilions, shopping, entertainment and service facilities will be located in the exhibition zone of the complex. The non-exhibition zone will consist of a conference centre, a press centre, an indoor city, houses and hotels.
Exhibits at the Expo
Over 100 wind-powered generators are planned to be constructed around Astana in preparation for EXPO 2017, says the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Central Asian Fuel and Energy Company Alexandr Klebanov.
A botanical garden to be built in Astana as part of EXPO 2017 will become a significant attraction, according to the Astana City Communal Services Administration. The 97-hectare garden complete with a parking lot will be located between Kabanbai Batyr Avenue and Turkestan Street.
Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev has announced that a plan for infrastructure development is the core of the new economic policy of the country through schemes including highway construction, tourism and the Expo-2017 international exhibition is one of them. The president has instructed the allocation of KZT40bn in addition to the KZT25bn already directed to the scheme.
Even as fair rules prohibit the host city from starting any preparations before official recognition, Astana was exempted from the regulation because of the long, harsh winter that shortens the construction season. As a result, work kicked off in April itself this year.
The specially created Astana EXPO-2017 National Company is planning to launch new types of transport in the capital, including high-speed buses, a new railway station and airport. In addition, there will be new buildings and others will be renovated. The city will host over 3000 cultural events during the exhibition.
Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev laid a capsule at the construction site of Astana’s EXPO 2017 exhibition complex. The campus includes buildings containing 4,000 apartments, a hotel, a congress hall and an indoor city that stretches for more than 500 metres. A retail and entertainment complex will be built in the covered area.
The main exposition pavilion is spherical in design with a diametre of 80 metres and a height of 100 metres. Preparatory work for the construction of the exhibition was discussed at a recent briefing given at the Central Communications Service (CCS).
The exhibition area covers 240,000 square metres, on which 26 facilities will be built, including international, corporate and themed pavilions, residential complexes, a school, a kindergarten, a hotel, a meeting hall, a conference and press centre, an expo office, an Energy Hall, commercial and retail areas, an indoor city, an expo plaza and an art centre.
Ancillary facilities, hotels, offices, warehouses and accommodations and places for social gatherings located across 750,000 square metres will cater to all attendee needs during the exhibition.
The advisor to President of Astana EXPO 2017 Company, Advisor Kanagat Tlemissov, said that after completion of the international event, all of the new buildings will be integrated into the greater city and local economy to meet Astana’s increasing demands.
The Expo will run for 93 days during the summer of 2017, according to Marketing and Communications Director Assel Kozhakova.
The exhibition team hopes to attract at least 50,000 visitors a day. Between 80 and 90 percent are expected to be Kazakhstan residents, Assel said.
More than 100 countries are expected to take part in the Expo, giving Kazakhstan and Astana its biggest international publicity splash since the summit of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe in the fall of 2010.
The exhibition will have four theme pavilions of 4,000 square meters each: World Energy, Energy for Life, Energy for All, and My Future Energy. An Energy Best Practices section that will showcase alternative energy will take up 3,500 square meters. The 100 international pavilions will have a combined 95,000 square meters of space. Corporate pavilions will account for about 9,000 square meters. There will be a 14,200-square-meter performing arts center.
And a Congress Center will offer 42,000 square meters of space for conferences, forums and meetings.
Expo2017 and visa
Kazakhstan has confirmed it will establish a visa-free regime for citizens of ten countries, including the United Kingdom, United States, Germany and France. Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev made the announcement during a speech to the Foreign Investors’ Council at the Borovoye Lake resort.
The visa-free regime will be in force between July 15th, 2014 and July 15th, 2015 and will also see citizens of Italy, Malaysia, Netherlands, United Arab Emirates, Republic of Korea and Japan offered ease of access. These are the countries that have either invested the most in Kazakhstan or have the potential investment planned. .
During this one-year period, citizens of these ten countries holding valid diplomatic, official and national passports can enter, exit and transit through the territory of Kazakhstan on multiple occasions without a visa for up to 15 calendar days at a time from the moment of crossing the state border.
Those wishing to stay longer will have to obtain a business visa from the ministry of internal affairs or an investor visa from the ministry of foreign affairs. The one year deadline is being seen as a trial period, with an extension possible.
“This is a special step by our country that aims to facilitate cooperation with other countries to attract investment and create favourable conditions for international travel on the eve of the international specialised exhibition EXPO 2017 in Astana,” says the First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Rapil Zhoshybayev.
Though Kazakhstan unilaterally eased visa restrictions for these countries, Kazakhstan will continue to negotiate with these and other countries to ease visa requirements for citizens of Kazakhstan.