On July 11-12, First Deputy Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan and Commissioner for EXPO 2017 Rapil Zhoshybayev travelled to Munich to exchange experience with Deputy Commissioner of EXPO 2000 in Hanover and Director of Messe München GmbH Norbert Bargmann and to spread the word about opportunities for German businesses to participate in EXPO 2017. He also met with Chairman of the Bavarian Council for Economic Promotion Otto Viskhoi.
During his visit to Munich, the expo commissioner held bilateral meetings with the management of a number of leading Bavarian companies engaged in producing alternative energy and energy-efficient green technologies as well as reconstructing and modernising urban infrastructure on so called Smart City projects.
During the meetings, the Bavarian business representatives were told about the preparation process for EXPO 2017 in Astana and opportunities to participate in it. In particular, Zhoshybayev emphasised that Kazakhstan is interested in attracting the world’s foremost technologies related to the theme of the forthcoming exhibition, “Future Energy.”
The German businessmen noted that Kazakhstan is an attractive market because of its rich natural opportunities for alternative energy development, such as sun and wind, its location in the centre of Eurasia and the support Kazakhstan receives from its leadership for the transition to a green economy.
The decision to hold EXPO 2017 in Astana is an additional impetus to implement long-term projects in the capital city, the results of which will be transferred to other regions of the country, as well as potential markets of neighbouring countries in the future. Bargmann shared his own experience of holding EXPO 2000 in Hannover. The sides discussed a range of issues regarding the organisation of the exhibit. Following the meeting, Bargmann voiced his intention to take an active part in the expo in Astana.
Earlier this year, at the first meeting of the working group for foreign participation in EXPO 2017, Astana’s expo commissioner noted previous successful international events held in Kazakhstan, among which were the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe summit, the Congresses of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, the Astana Economic Forum, the Asian Games and others. He stressed that EXPO 2017 will last for three months and the participation of a large number of interested parties is expected.
Kazakhstan as the venue of EXPO 2017 is to give an impetus to Smart City project implementation.
“Smart City is an intellectual community of the future where communications are based on the latest technologies. The fundamental components of the intellectual community are economic, environmental and social ones. Successful implementation of the Smart City project will achieve significant results in the environmental, economic and social spheres,” Executive Director of the Centre for Smart City Innovation at Ernst & Young and Chairman at i-CANADA Alliance Bill Hutchison said.
