EXPO-2017 Commissioner Visits Toronto and Ottawa, Signs Participation Agreement with CARICOM in New York
Mr. Rapil Zhoshybayev, Commissioner of the International Specialized Exhibition EXPO-2017 visited Toronto and Ottawa on September 21-22. He held a series of meetings with Canadian officials and business community to present the current status of preparations for EXPO-2017 titled “Future Energy” and to discuss the possibilities for participation of the Canadian companies in EXPO-2017 which is to be held in Kazakhstan’s capital from June to September 2017.
In Toronto, Mr. Zhoshybayev participated in the business conference titled “Future of Energy: EXPO-2017 Opportunities in Kazakhstan” organized by the Canada Eurasia Russia Business Association (CERBA) and Kazakhstan-Canada Business Council. A number of top managers of leading Canadian companies, including Cameco, Uranium One, Phoenix Geophysics, Minas Energy, and Gowling WLG participated in the event. He also met with major Canadian tour operators to explore ways to facilitate Canadians’ trip to Kazakhstan during EXPO-2017. From January1, 2017, the citizens of all OECD countries, including Canada, will not be required to obtain a Kazakhstan visa for short-term visits.
During the conference at CERBA, the EXPO Commissioner briefed participants about the current status of preparatory works for EXPO and discussed various ways to ensure the participation of Canadian companies. The business community welcomed the theme of EXPO-2017 “Future Energy”, which presents a good opportunity to showcase their expertise and innovations in the sphere of sustainable development, green economy and environment protection. A number of companies confirmed their readiness to participate in EXPO-2017 and to hold the next forum of Kazakhstan-Canada Business Association at the EXPO site during the same period.
In Ottawa, Mr. Zhoshybayev met with Mr. Leigh Sarty, Acting Assistant Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada and Director General for Europe and Eurasia. They discussed Kazakhstan-Canada bilateral relations, including recent meetings between President Nursultan Nazarbayev and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at the G20 Summit in China, and between Foreign Ministers Erlan Idrissov and Stephane Dion on the margins of the UN General Assembly. The EXPO-2017 Commissioner noted that Canadian companies’ participation to the EXPO will contribute to strengthening partnership between the two countries and help elevate the relationship to a new level. Mr. Sarty expressed his confidence that Kazakhstan, as the region’s leading country, will convene the Exhibition on the highest level.
Mr. Zhoshybayev left Ottawa for New York, where he met with Mr. Irwin LaRocque, Secretary General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), and signed the Agreement on participation of 10 CARICOM states in EXPO-2017.
Tickets for EXPO-2017 are now available at https://tickets.expo2017astana.com/en.
Kazakhstan Set To Welcome The World
http://www.travelpress.com/kazakhstan-set-welcome-world/#.V-bbhvkrKUk
The Central Asian nation of Kazakhstan is getting ready to welcome the world as its hosts Expo 2017 (Future Energy) from June 10 to Sept. 10 of next year. For those unfamiliar with Kazakhstan, it is the ninth largest country in the world (about the size of Ontario and Quebec) with a population of 17 million – bordered by Russia to the north and China to the east. Rapil Zhoshybayev, commissioner of Expo 2017, was in Toronto on September 21 to promote the upcoming World Expo, which is expected to attract around five million visitors. The big news for Canadians is that starting Jan. 1. 2017, Kazakhstan is waiving its visa requirements for a year. The show itself, which will feature more than 3,000 special events, is located on the outskirts of Kazakhstan’s capital city, Astana, a modern city described as having a very good infrastructure and accommodation options that include numerous five-star hotels. Along with Expo 2017, Zhoshybayev said officials are promoting tourism around the region, highlighted by cultural, eco- and casino-tours. Kazakhstan is home to part of the Silk Road and boasts numerous cities with a 1,000 years of history. Like Canada, it is mountainous and has many lakes.
Getting there is easy with a connection in Europe, or through China from the west. A direct flight is in the works by Air Astana from New York next year.
Pictured are Mr. Zhoshybayev (l) and H.E. Mr. Konstantin Zhigalov, Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Canada.