ХамзаА., Әбдікерім С., Хамза Б.

Южно Казахстанский государственный педагогический институт, Казахстан

«EXPO-2017» in Kazakhstan: a new image, a new level and ability!

“This is a great opportunity for our country to get new energy and “green technology”. It is billions of dollars of investment, which will arrive in Kazakhstan during the period of preparation and holding of EXPO-2017, and further use of its facilities,” - said in the President's message to the people of Kazakhstan in connection with the decision of holding the International Exhibition EXPO-2017 in Astana.

It all started back in 1997, when Kazakhstan became a member of the International Exhibitions Bureau. Since that time, our country has actively manifested itself in the Japanese Aichi, in 2008 in the Spanish Zaragoza, in 2010 in Shanghai and in 2012 in the South Korean city of Yeosu.

Its formal application Kazakhstan passed June 10, 2011 in Paris at the headquarters of the International Exhibitions Bureau, when the executive secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Rapil Zhoshybayev, National Project Coordinator of EXPO-2017, met with Secretary General of the BIE, Mr. Vicente Gonzalez Loscertales.

103 of the 161 member states of the International Expositions Bureau (BIE) voted in Paris on November 22 in favor of Astana’s bid to host the International EXPO 2017 on the theme of “Future Energy”. This is the first time that a BIE event has been awarded to a city on the territory of the former Soviet Union. BIE countries chose between the bids of Astana and the Belgian city of Liège. 
“I want to inform you that we have just achieved another big victory for our country,” a beaming President Nursultan Nazarbayev told a special press conference in Paris when he announced the news. “This is the greatest achievement at the international level of Kazakhstan’s Independence.”

World Expo is a socio-political and economic unique event, comparable to the Olympic Games, this is a place of exchange of experience, the embodiment of the spirit of peaceful cooperation. It is estimated by contemporaries as "the most important focus of interests of mankind", "the ideology of the era," "the results of the century." World exhibitions have played a certain role in the rapid dissemination of the best inventions in the world, expansion of production, increase of commodity turnover, improvement of mutual understanding between people of different countries.

History of World’s Fairs starts with “The Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of all Nations” held in London in 1851 and continues up to this day. In 1928 the International Exhibitions Bureau (BIE) was founded in Paris to oversee the exhibition activity. At the moment it is one of the oldest and most respectable international institutions (166 countries are its member states). The International Exhibitions Bureau monitors compliance with the principles and objectives of the Universal Expositions; in the framework of international cooperation it holds events in education and innovation fields and conducts meetings to exchange viewpoints and develop a global dialogue on mankind problems.

Venues for the World’s Fairs and their themes are determined by taking into account political, economic, geographical and cultural contexts. In the XIX century the Industrial Revolution, movements of Romanticism and Positivism create favorable conditions for the phenomenon of expositions. Since their inception the Expositions have been a manifestation of solidarity among nations; thus, they simultaneously become both “showcase” and forums discussing issues related to the progress of mankind. Occasionally the solemn dates are celebrated along with Universal Expositions; EXPO becomes a link between the past, present and future. Thus, in 1889 in Paris the Centennial of the French Revolution is celebrated, 1876 EXPO in Philadelphia marks the 100th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence of the USA; 1893 EXPO in Chicago and 1992 EXPO in Seville commemorate the 500th anniversary of the discovery of Americas, and 1915 EXPO in San Francisco celebrates the completion of the Panama Canal.

The idea of holding Universal Expositions in ONE BUILDING, which would house all the exhibits, was first tested in the central part of London in 1851. For this purpose The Crystal Palace was erected being an innovative construction for its time in which the support structure of the conservatory is combined with revolutionary for its novelty engineering structures that repeat the pattern of leaf veins of the giant Victoria Regia water lily. The Crystal Palace was built as a temple of a new religion professed by the new society that worships the technology.

Since 1855 the concept of holding Universal Expositions in one building is becoming obsolete and the new form of exhibition space organization is being born – the exhibition grounds. At this time the international exhibition cities emerge. “White City” in Chicago, 1893, is the first example of such a city; however, this layout for exhibitions will be used in the future: exposition is located around the lake among the channels and creeks.

Among art forms presented at World’s Fairs an important place is given to the architecture. The host cities strive to erect some outstanding, unique buildings which would become a symbolic expression of modernity, technological progress, and outspokenness and get recognizable all over the world: the Atomium in Brussels, the National Palace of Montjuic in Barcelona, the Eiffel Tower in Paris, etc.

World EXPO is a performance itself; moreover, it is a giant “theatrical stage of a global scale” where the cultural and creative events take place. The visitor is introduced to the heritage and history of World’s Fairs, dripped with amusing stories, fun, amazing and unforgettable events associated with the emergence of new forms of entertainment: travelling by air-balloon, airship, the first steps of the cinema, etc.

Public attracted to everything extraordinary flocks to the World’s Fairs not only for the sake of knowledge, but for entertainment. Consequently, at the World’s Fairs of the last third of the XIX century amusement parks emerge, the predecessors of the currently existing ones.

World’s Fairs emerge and establish themselves at the time of the rapid progress in science and technology. The most amazing machinery and accessories – elevators, conveyors, sewing machines as well as the telegraph, electric light, refrigerating systems – all these inventions, familiar to the people now – were first presented at different World’s Fairs.

But World’s Fairs are also a place for work and discussions, opportunity to draw attention of the mankind to the global issues. After the Second World War expositions reflect aspiration to combine technological progress with life and sustainable development.

The decision to participate in the World Exhibition taken at the level of governments of each country. Expositions are usually from 150 to 180 countries. Number of visitors to the World Universal Exhibition EXPO is 40-45 million people. These indicators emit Expo also in terms of its influence on the processes of international integration. Accordingly, the timing of the exhibition are determined not days or even weeks. Usually Expo held within 3-6 months.

World’s Fairs for the host cities are a great opportunity to take a step into the future. Exhibitions add up a great economic potential to the cities and regions: the latest technology, equipment, transportation systems and services, cutting-edge developments in the fields of urban planning and architecture. All that leaves in the city an eternal memory about the former World’s Fair.

Since its existence  World Expo has been held in the cities like  Paris, New York, Chicago,  Brussels, Osaka, Vancouver and some others.

The organizers of Expo in the 21st century wish to, through the use of rich means of exhibition, review the process of how people are using wisdom and technology to reconnect themselves with nature, from which they have been moving away. The Expo in the 21st century is still full of life, and will play an important role in promoting world peace and development.

Astana’s EXPO 2017 bid builds on Kazakhstan’s initiative to establish a “Green Bridge Partnership” to bring together governments, international organizations and private business to find transnational solutions to sustainable growth. At a regional level, the initiative aims at solution of many issues in the Central Asia and the CIS, that are related to energy and environmental security, including water.

By hosting EXPO-2017, Astana intends to be a showcase for demonstrating the latest global developments in these areas and become a hub for developing alternative energy solutions across Central Asia.

Kazakhstan has enormous potential in renewable energy, particularly in wind and solar. Wind power can potentially produce 25 times more energy in a year than is currently produced from its hydrocarbons. The Government also sees vast opportunities to conserve energy, including at the consumer end by 50-60%. Urgent steps are already being taken to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Kazakhstan will be the first CIS country to launch a cap and trade system starting in January 2013.

Benjamin Loring, deputy director of Ceres, the Center for Eurasian, Russian and East European Studies at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., sees Kazakhstan’s success in winning the competition to host EXPO 2017 as the logical next step in the process of integrating that nation and the rest of Central Asia into the global community and economic market place after long eras of being cut off as part of the Russian Empire and the Soviet Union. “This region of the world has been very poorly understood outside its immediate environs in the past,” Loring told EdgeKz. “However, the last 20 years have seen a gradual opening of the region to the global economy and to the world community. This will be one more step in that process.”

Expo 2017 will last three months, include representatives from approximately 100 countries and is expected to draw three to five million visitors, which would make it the largest international gathering of its kind Central Asia has seen. It will be held during Astana’s 20th anniversary as the nation’s capital and celebrate the emergence of independent Kazakhstan and the wider region as the energy and communications hub of Europe, Asia and the Middle East since the collapse of communism.

“Traditionally, EXPO exhibitions have been held in Northeast Asia, Europe and North America,” BIE Secretary General Vicente Gonzalez Loscertales said. “Holding an exhibition in the new (Central Asian) region, which is the bridge between East and West, in a young country, which has developed very good relations with European, Middle Eastern countries, former Soviet republics, as well as with all countries of the Central Asian region is an additional advantage, which also strengthens the position of Astana.”

Holding EXPO-2017 promises to our state significant changes in all spheres. A major new impetus to the development get small and medium businesses of the capital and surrounding regions - a sphere of public services, hospitality and domestic tourism.

The exhibition will attract significant amounts of private investment in the construction of exhibition facilities and infrastructure of the capital, create tens of thousands of jobs for their service, develop domestic tourism and increase the inflow of foreign tourists to the country, mobilize economic and social resources of Kazakhstan. Facilities constructed within the EXPO, will allow to consider Kazakhstan and its capital as a major international, exhibition and information-presentation platform in the future. The exhibition will present the world with a multi-ethnic culture, ancient history, art, tradition and hospitality of the Kazakhs, raise awareness and tourist attractiveness of Kazakhstan in the world community. Every day in the exhibition area will be concerts, shows, national days and other recreational activities.

Exhibition EXPO in Astana will last 3 months - from June 10 to September 10, 2017. It is expected to have approximately 100 countries and 10 international organizations involved. The exhibition will be visited by more than 5 million people. This will be a big step towards the international promotion of Kazakhstan.

In the case of the exhibition in Liege embedding investment amounted to 550 million euro investment from both the state and the private business. As for investments in Kazakhstan EXPO-2017, they amount to about $ 1.5 billion. The special international commission, which held an expert evaluation in Liege and in Astana, noted that in Liege expected 6 million visitors and about 8 million visits.

The main advantages of Astana in the visit of EXPO-2017 - neighborhood with Russia, China and India. Approximately 2.5 billion people live in the close proximity to our state. At 3-hour flight are the capital of India and Russia, 5 hours - Beijing.

The world is now faced with a lack of energy and the threat of environmental crisis that puts the real task of preserving traditional sources of energy and the search for alternative. EXPO will serve as a platform for the exchange of experiences between countries, and the initiative of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan N.A.Nazarbayev "Green Bridge" will pave the way for new opportunities to save energy and preserve the environment.

The forthcoming exhibition, which will be held under the slogan "Energy of the Future", conceived as a large-scale project, the theme of which is energy, causing deep multilateral interest. The project has a specific purpose - to explore the strategies, programs and technologies aimed at the development of sustainable energy sources, improving the reliability and efficiency of energy conservation, encourage the use of renewable energy sources and show visitors the need for their active participation in the development and implementation of the plan of energy-efficient production and energy efficiency. In general, the idea of the "Energy of the Future" is to draw attention to decisions and processes, providing management of sustainable energy sources.

The theme of renewable energy is these days more relevant than ever. Kazakhstan has all the conditions for innovation. The potential of wind energy is huge, numerous rivers of the country operate mini-hydro, and sunlight are also missing.

In the world increasingly heard talk about the depletion of natural resources. To replace the hydrocarbons is coming "green economy", it gradually becomes a world trend. And for the country it is extremely important to be among the leading states in this area.

Traditionally, speaking about the EXPO, accepted to think about considerable cost (more than 2 billion euros), which will be allocated from the budget of Kazakhstan for hosting this event. Not all understand it would be logical to accept these costs as an investment in the economy, which does not happen much.

Management of the national company "Astana" EXPO-2017 "also states that the exhibition will be held at the highest level and will pay for all the resources spent on it. In addition, the exhibition will provide the opening of 20,000 jobs.

To finance "EXPO-2017" is supposed not only from the budget. Kazakhstan expects to get help from corporate members of the world-class companies. This will be a major focus of the preparatory work for the exhibition.

Kazakhstan, an ambitious young country with ambitious plans, reasonably believes that "EXPO" will attract new technologies to the republic that further will become the basis for the formation and development of the alternative energy sources of the country. At the same time representatives of the national science also should not remain on the sidelines. Development of energy sources «made in Kazakhstan», in its turn, will give the opportunity to become an object of investment.

In the area of "EXPO-2017" is planned a construction of four new streets with a total length of 19 kilometers, is scheduled to complete the construction of the small ring road 17 km by 2017, and 32 km of main streets. In addition, by "EXPO 2017" will appear 30 new air routes. To relieve highways is planned due to high-speed Metrobus - interconnected 3 - 5 buses that will go on a special 48-kilometer route, rather than in the general traffic flow. In the project is based the laying of the monorail. Routes will link the international airport with the exhibition town and cover areas where will be administrative and cultural facilities and most hotels.

In addition, the "Expo-2017" will create on the world stage a country with progressive image, developing on its territory environmentally friendly technologies.

Exhibition Complex "Expo-2017" will be for Kazakhstan and the whole region a good example of the "energy of the future." The complex will be simultaneously generated by solar, wind energy and energy from waste processing. In fact, this huge complex will be able to produce all the electricity, and with good sun and wind - pass it on to the municipal system.

Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev noted that after the exhibition all the premises of "EXPO-2017" will be used for the development of Astana, the entire region and for the good of the people.

On the main building architectural competition "EXPO-2017" were presented 50 works. The winner was a foreign company, which has a great experience not only in construction, but also in the field of "green economy".

The EXPO itself will be held on 113 hectares (279.23 acres) of land at the end of Millennium Alley in the new southwest district of the city. The Millennium Alley area “combines numerous facilities of political and cultural significance for the city. Thus, constructing the exhibition complex at the Millennium Alley will be a logical way to continue the urban development of the city,” said Zhoshybayev. “If you start with the Khan Shatyr (mall shopping complex) and go further along the Alley, you will come to the Akorda Presidential Palace, the Peace Pyramid and the Independence Palace. The EXPO site will be located on this axis, close to the city’s new center.”

Astana also plans to install streaming cameras throughout the expo site to broadcast the event worldwide. “Astana will become the first digital EXPO with video cameras and Wi-Fi everywhere so that every corner of the world with access to the Internet can see this historic event,” said Aidar Kazybayev, chairman of the Trade Committee of the Ministry of Economic Development. Kazybayev says planning work on the EXPO was launched in January and is well underway.

References

1. J.A.Aitken, “Nazarbayev and the Making of Kazakhstan”, Astana 2014, 63-64p.

2. N.A.Nazarbayev, “The Way of Kazakhstan”, Astana 2010, 47-51p.

3. M.D.Alimbekov, “New stages within the new Idea”, Almaty, 2014, 112-113p.

4. I.E Inozemtseva, “World exhibitions, their role and value”, Moscow 2009, № 1, 82-92p.