Venue

Venue: “Korme” Exhibition Complex

Exhibition complex “Korme” World Trade Center Astana is designed and built in accordance with high international standards.

The complex is located in the new administrative and business centre (Left bank, Water-green avenue) of Kazakhstan capital, near the Government building, House of Ministries and offices of the largest national companies, not far from the highway connecting Astana and the International Air Terminal “Astana”.

Astaná (Astana in Kazakh means “capital”), established in 1830, is the capital of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Today Astana is a fairly large city with the area over 200 sq. km. In 1999 according to the resolution of UNESCO Astana was awarded with the honourable title of "City for Peace". After receiving the status of a capital and “Astana – New City” Special Economic Zone, Astana started the implementation of a large number of architectural and urban development projects. The population of the city has increased from 270,000 people in 1996 to 687,700 people in 2010.

Astana in the international scene

The acquisition of the capital city status by Astana was followed by the increased interest in it on behalf of CIS and far abroad countries in terms of co-operation in the trade and economic, scientific and technical, and cultural spheres. Over the ten years that have passed since the move of the capital, Astana, as a new political and administrative centre, has considerably expanded economic and cultural ties with the largest cities and regions of the world, and consolidated its authority on the international stage. The speed and wide scale of reforms in Astana, their depth and social focus have been duly recognized by the international community. In July 1999 Astana was awarded the UNESCO “City for Peace” Prize, and the leading international rating agency Moody’s Investors Service has increased its credit rating by two levels in one move – from Ba3 (stable) to Ba1 (positive)

Today the capital of Kazakhstan has strong friendship and sister relations with twenty cities in the world – Moscow, Minsk, Kyiv, Chisinau, Tashkent, Riga, Tbilisi, Baku, Cairo, Islamabad, Berlin, Budapest, Warsaw, Vilnius, Ankara, Gdansk (Republic of Poland), Ushak (Turkey), Bangkok (Thailand), Seoul (Republic of Korea), Amman (Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan). With six regions of the Russian Federation – Yekaterinburg, Saratov, Chelyabinsk, Omsk regions and the Government of the Republic of Bashkortostan, as well as with Kazan, the capital of Tatarstan. Astana has established knowledge exchange with the Moscow municipal authorities, in the fields of scientific research, integration of new technologies, reforming the utilities sector.

Astana, as the capital of Kazakhstan, sets special importance to close trade and economic relations between Kazakhstan and the border regions of Russia, sharing the longest in the world common border line of six thousand kilometres.

Since 2000 Astana is a member of the International Assembly of Capital and Big Cities (MAC), an authoritative organisation in the sphere of social and business partnership, which also includes Moscow, Minsk, Bishkek and other large cities of the EAEC. This fact has undoubtedly helped to enhance the economic interaction between the cities. MAC is a voluntary non-commercial association, established by the executive and representative bodies of the capital and big cities to ensure joint efforts in social and economic development of the cities.

Since the move of the capital Astana has significantly expanded the geography of its foreign economic relations, increased its trade and export potential, and this is clearly confirmed by the steady growth of the city’s foreign trade turnover, which has increased from only 242 million US dollars in 1999 to about 4 billion US dollars in 2005. The main articles of export to the near and far abroad are: grain products, flour-and-cereals products, metallurgy products. The main consumers of Astana’s export in the CIS are Moldova, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and in the far abroad – the United Kingdom, Poland, Hungary, Iran, UAE, China and Turkey. Astana imports machinery, equipment, construction materials, vehicles, consumer products and clothes. The main volumes of import come from Russia, Ukraine, USA, Czech Republic, Germany, Japan, South Korea.

Today Astana is of undoubtedly high interest to international business: as of July 1, there have been 432 foreign companies and 166 joint ventures operating in the city. Members of business communities from 52 countries regard partnership with Kazakhstan businessmen as a profitable investment of their capital. New joint and foreign ventures create new jobs, enrich Kazakhstan experience with new technologies and increase receipts to the city’s budget.

Astana is increasing its investment attractiveness both for foreign and domestic capital through a well-elaborated city’s investment policy and a set of privileges, guarantees and preferences provided to investors operating in “Astana – a New City” Special Economic Zone.

National currency – KAZAKHSTAN TENGE

Visa

Foreign citizens and stateless citizens require a visa to enter the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan, unless otherwise specified in the international treaty of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Citizens of Russia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Uzbekistan and Moldova do not require a visa to visit Kazakhstan, they only need to provide their foreign passport. Entry documents are drawn at the airport or at other check-points.

List of countries the citizens of which obey the simplified visa regime. Visas are provided upon written requests without prior invitations and visa support

Australia, Republic of Austria, Kingdom of Belgium, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Republic of Greece, Kingdom of Denmark, Republic of Ireland, Republic of Iceland, Kingdom of Spain, Republic of Italy, Canada, Principality of Liechtenstein, Malaysian Federation, Principality of Monaco, Kingdom of the Netherlands, New Zealand, Kingdom of Norway, Republic of Portugal, Republic of Singapore, United States of America, Republic of Finland, Republic of France, Federal Republic of Germany, Swiss Confederation, Kingdom of Sweden, Japan, Republic of Korea, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Slovak Republic, Republic of Hungary, Republic of Poland, United Arab Emirates

More detailed information on entry visa issuance is available from the consular service of the accredited embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan in your country.