On January 14, Mr. Talgat Yermegiyaev, the Chairman of the Board of JSC “NC “Astana EXPO-2017” received the high ranking Qatar delegation, headed by His Excellency Abdulla ben Ahmad Al Mutawaa, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Qatar in the Republic of Kazakhstan and H.E. Ahmad ben Mohammad Al Sayed, Head of Qatar Investment Fund (Qatar Fund).  The meeting also consisted of H.E. Azamat Berdybai, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Kazakhstan to Qatar,  Mr. Adnan Al Emadiy, representative company “Al Diyar Real Estate”.

During the meeting, issues of bilateral relations between two countries in the context of International recognised exhibition EXPO 2017 were discussed. First of all, the Chairman of the Management Board of JSC “NC “Astana EXPO-2017”, informed the diplomats on the Company’s activity, its goals and objectives.

The Head of Qatar Fund expressed his hopes to have fruitful negotiations in the course of his first visit to Kazakhstan. It is necessary to note that the Qatar fund was established in 2005 in order to provide investments of huge oil and gas sector’s profit into economies of foreign countries. Qatar has been one of the world’s fastest growing economies over the last decade. Currently, according to some experts, foreign equities of the Fund consist of more than 100 bln US dollars.

Representatives of National company told the Qatar guests about the Chicago-based Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture (AS+GG), which has been announced recently as winner of a major design competition for EXPO-2017 in Astana and design idea of the site. There were also introduced planned facilities which can be of great interest for potential investors like Qatar Fund. Among those were discussed residential complex “EXPO City”, hotels, shopping and entertaining centres, including cafeterias and restaurants. It is supposed that all these objects later (post Exhibition) will be used for commercial purposes.
During course of meeting the representatives of National company told the Delegation that all foreign participants are subject to full privileges and preferences made by members of Special free economic zone, since Exhibition area is considered as one according to EXPO Law which entered into the force in 2013. 

At the end of meeting parties proposed that they should have further negotiations with purpose of study of profitability and potential investments in planned objects of Exhibition. There was also an agreement to establish working groups from both sides for conducting monitoring and operational management. In particular, there was agreed that Qatar party would inform of results of study and analysis of investment projects.

In conclusion, parties have agreed to continue fruitful cooperation within preparatory stages of hosting Expo 2017.