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Astana Aspires 2017 EXPO

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The success came in a tough competition with an experienced and well-prepared competitor – Belgium city of Liège - proposing the theme "Bringing people together’. However, in a secret ballot of 161 representatives Astana was given the overwhelming number of votes (103-44).

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Úsáidimid do shíniú suas chun ábhar a sholáthar ar bhealaí ar thoiligh tú leo agus chun ár dtuiscint ortsa a fheabhsú. Is féidir leat díliostáil ag am ar bith.

The success came in a tough competition with an experienced and well-prepared competitor – Belgium city of Liège - proposing the theme "Bringing people together’. However, in a secret ballot of 161 representatives Astana was given the overwhelming number of votes (103-44).

Undoubtedly there were a number of factors, contributing to the victory: Astana’s record as a host for OSCE 2010 Summit and 2011 VII Asian Winter Games played a role in obtaining this new success.

Reacting upon the victory the Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Kairat Kelimbetov told that he supported research in the field of energy of the future by creating a special EXPO-2017 fund (62 million euros), allocated to scientific endeavours on the development of renewable sources of energy in more than 70 developing countries.

Reportedly Kazakh authorities intend to implement plans for stimulating of processing industries. The government adopted a policy of rapid industrialization enhancing the introduction of new industries leading to growth of energy consumption. In spite of Kazakhstan’s 4% of world’s energy reserves is mainly exploiting its coal component, the policy to share in renewable energy sources (RES) has increased to 11 % .  The authorities expect that with the development of renewable energy world-wide the corresponding technologies will be more affordable.

Symbolically the exhibition area will be provided by renewable energy sources only, converting Astana into a model city of the future. The presentation of the achievements of the alternative energies at the EXPO-2017 will further expand the horizons of renewable in Kazakhstan and globally.


The decisive factor, in analysing the BIE ‘"Energy for the future" choice lies in the energy shortages forcing the world powers to seek new ways to solve this problem.

In the next quarter of the century mankind will face two simultaneous global threats: the shortage of energy resources and environmental disaster,   according to the International Energy Agency (IEA).

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The decision of demonstrating the best achievements of mankind in the development of green energy to be held in a country whose economy historically was dependent on coal would become the main "highlight" of the upcoming event, ensured Kelimbetov.

The authorities of Kazakhstan – a 20-years young country in December 1991 breaking away from the Soviet Union, - have adopted the energy theme intentionally to attract public opinion to the related problems.

However the previous events – OSCE and Asian Winter Games - are incomparable to holding EXPO that might attract about five million visitors and about a dozen of international organizations.

For the moment Astana itself doesn’t count even a million of inhabitants!

The EXPO-2017 in Astana including borrowed money will cost 1.2 billion euro. Of these, 250 million euros will be allocated from the state budget to prepare the venue. The lion's share of funding, about one billion euro’s needed for the construction of halls, hotels and infrastructure.

There are those who are sceptical about the tradition of EXPO’s. In Germany the event tuned to be a loss because of a lower than expected turn-out of the visitors. The story of financial failure discouraged France to take a challenge refusing the show. Although one shouldn’t reduce the economic impact by direct profit only.  In Canada the costs were impressive but the related growth of international tourism supplemented the budget and brought the impressive profits as well.


But among the beneficiaries are not only hosts, but individual participants. That is a case of a 10-fold Dutch profit while exhibiting in Germany: from 35 million euro’s investment to 350 million profit!

The expectations of Kazakhs fly high eager to attract significant amounts of private investment for construction of new exhibition facilities and infrastructure. The forthcoming event is regarded as an impulse for the city development. The land for the construction of the future Expo Centre with the infrastructural development of the city is selected already: 113 hectares, of which 25 hectares - is the complex itself, and the rest is allocated for parking, outdoor construction and city EXPO-2017.

However it would be a mistake to reduce the EXPO to profits and investments – there is a strong artistic element to it! Among the masterpieces inspired by EXPO’s are ‘Crystal Palace’ in London's Hyde Park and ‘Tour d’Eiffel’ in Paris. Once commissioned for the exhibition they became symbols and an integral part of the landscape of the capitals, true attractions for cultural pilgrims from all over the globe. This tradition allows predicting that Astana will have a chance to embellish itself once again.

At present the capital stays as an immense ever-growing construction site presenting pieces of modern architecture related to the significant international happenings. Internationally acknowledged architects Kisho Kurokawa and Norman Foster have already participated in creation of its modern profile.

The city is looking for new creations and everybody in anticipation is looking forward to it!

 

Anna van Densky

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