Kazakhstan
Steppe change
Paul Colston steppes out in Kazakhstan and finds a land fast developing as an exhibition and events destination
espite it being the
D world ’ s ninth largest country , many might struggle to place Kazakhstan on a map . Is it in Europe or Asia ? Well , the identity has certainly been through periods of crises , with the capital changing from Alma-Ata to Almaty , then moving to Astana ( which changed its name to Nur-Sultan and back again to Astana in recent years , with a few other variations along its more ancient historical journey ).
What is not in doubt is that a new heady mix for meetings and events has emerged of late as this new Eurasian identity has formed .
With an economy strong on natural resources , it is a fast emerging trade fair destination that is much more than the classic Borat phrase ‘ Very Nice !’.
A jeep safari into the Kazakh steppes is a fascinating add-on for any delegate
The country may be huge but is also hugely accessible . I took the direct route into Almaty from London with Air Astana , which has been winning awards for best startup airline and expanding rapidly through a 49 % shareholding with British Aerospace Systems , although Turkish airlines has also opened several routes into the country . At time of writing there are over 100 routes with 27 countries served by three local and 26 international airlines .
Almaty is a vibrant city offering a fusion of cuisines and cultures . The so-called home of the apple , the city has survived earthquakes , flooding and the collapse of the Soviet Union .
Since independence in 1991 , the city has grown quickly but also fast reached its limits as it is rather hemmed in by geography , preventing the kind of opportunities for future growth that the capital Astana has a plenty .
While Almaty has many chain hotels established – such as the Rixos , Ritz-Carlton , Rahat Palace , InterContinental , Grand Mildom , Novotel and DoubleTree – all suitable for that big corporate event , nearby mountain resorts offer spectacular add-ons for delegates wishing to mix some pleasure with their business , including skiing and falconry centres , as well as ethno villages where traditional lifestyles , yurts and crafts are on show .
Astana attracts Kazakhstan ’ s main business , political and administrative centre claims to be the youngest capital in the world . Astana ( the word literally means ‘ capital ’) has seen many
Boris Danilenko
incarnations from Akmolinsk to Akmola , Tselinograd to Astana via Nur-Sultan . Shiny skyscrapers now mirror the architectural style of Dubai and Abu Dhabi and many of the key buildings were designed by Japanese architect Kisho Kurokawa . Sir Norman Foster has also made his architectural mark on the city .
The Sphere , or Museum of Future Energy Nur-Alem , was commissioned for the 2017 Expo in Kazakhstan , a landmark event that opened to the world this gateway to Central Asia . The Sphere can also be hired for events .
The legacy of the 2017 World Expo is a modern capital with its own Expo City , which embraces QazExpo Congress Centre and the International Exhibition Centre – spread over 23,000sqm – as well as hotels including the Hilton .
Organiser Astana-Expo KS welcomes over 10,000 visitors a year and has hosted 76 major congresses and exhibitions in its 17 years of working in this market .
In the centre of the city there is also the Sheraton Astana , Ritz- Carlton , St . Regis and another Rixos .
Symbolic of this new capital standing tall is the Baytarek tower , a 97m monument with commanding views from the top .
Out of exhibition hours I can certainly recommend extending your stay , perhaps take a jeep safari into the Kazakh steppe and wonder at the incredible rock formations . These Martian style landscapes would be an ideal add-on for any geology related event .
Yuri Borodikhin is an exhibition specialist in the Kazakhstan market and tells EW : “ The exhibition and conference industry continues to grow in Kazakhstan with some events already surpassing the prepandemic levels in terms of size and number of visitors .
“ Most major events are taking place either in Almaty , the commercial centre of Kazakhstan
30 Issue 4 2023 www . exhibitionworld . co . uk