ВЕСТНИК КазНПУ имени Абая, серия «Исторические и социально-политические науки», №3(58), 2018 г.
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Japan and in the European states too, they in those years were actively profitable. The expert stressed that
Kazakhstan needs to learn how to conduct international events with practical, including financial, benefits for
themselves [6].
Such major international events allow us to learn from our mistakes and strangers, as well as adopt useful
experience and introduce advanced ideas. At one time, the already mentioned in the previous chapter Shanghai
thanks to the EXPO-2010 has undergone many positive changes, said the director of the Centre for Chinese
Studies of China Centre, political analyst AdilKaukenov. Moreover, according to him: “The EXPO influenced not
only Shanghai, but also the whole China. One of the most important elements is the infrastructure. First, they
summed up the international standard of taxi”. In addition, the Exhibition helped us to understand who to orient to
business. At the very beginning, the figures were five million foreign visitors, then three million, then two million.
Then it became understandable that most of the Exhibition is the Kazakh. Talking about the foreigners – not the
French, Americans or Peruvians, but the representatives of the near abroad, the Russians and Chinese [7].
Assessing the EXPO-2017 in Astana from the other side, Vicente Gonzales, Secretary General of the
International Exhibition Bureau addressed a note where thanked President of Kazakhstan for the personal
approach to the event’s organisation: “I received feedback from the participating countries that the EXPO has
become a bright event and the most successful specialized exhibition in history. I am sure that this will contribute
to the further development of all future specialized EXPOs. Undoubtedly, the success of EXPO-2017 in Astana
was achieved thanks to your personal support and active participation in the implementation of this brilliant
project”. Moreover, in the letter Mr. Gonzales mentioned AkhmetzhanYessimov’s professionalism that helped to
prepare everything in time for the EXPO. In conclusion of the letter, Secretary General of the IEB thanked Mr.
Nazarbayev for receiving the Order “Dostyk” and stressed that it was the most valuable experience in his career as
a Head of the IEB [7].
MukhtarMankeev, Chairman of the Council of the National Movement “Kazakhstan 2050” said the
expectations were very high, and they were justified. It is not about investments, but about which sphere they
created. Kazakhstan showed its strategic message by holding this Exhibition [8]. Mr. Mankeev stressed the crucial
feature of our state - a country rich in oil, gas and other resources, but at the same time understanding our social
responsibility to the world, especially to the environment. What makes the EXPO-2017 particularly useful is that
the regions began to introduce the green technologies that were shown at the EXPO. The media reports that
Almaty, Astana, South Kazakhstan adopt the experience that was demonstrated: “If not even 100 %, and even half
of it will be used in Kazakhstan, then we will be able to come to the economy by 2050, as they are now talking
about - a diversified, socially responsible economy based on knowledge and innovations. If you look at this point
of view, then the EXPO showed us all this as much as possible” [8].
In general, our EXPO was evaluated as a platform where, at a time, such technical solutions to these problems
were exhibited. In other words, there is a world dialogue, how to confront these challenges. It turns out, for these
challenges; the EXPO-2017 was the answer. What about the revenue from the EXPO in Astana, that summer
became the most profitable for the local businesses. Travel agencies, hotels, restaurants, entertainment
establishments had an unprecedented “full house”. The house renting increased by 33 %, turnover - by 20 %,
attendance of shopping and entertainment centres increased too. Noticeable revival was in tourism - tour
operators’ popularity grew by 78 %. The number and frequency of flights increased, new ones were opened. Only
in July, the receipt of taxes from the services sector increased by 2.5 times. In general, the goal, if not justified the
means, has brought considerable benefit [9]. Over 1,400 small and medium-sized businesses received orders for
the supply of goods and services worth 640 billion tenge. The tourist sector of Kazakhstan received a noticeable
boost - demand for tour operator services increased 1.8 times. The number of business entities in Astana increased
by more than 10 %. Taxes in the budget of the capital from the service sector increased 1.2 times [10]. The capital
of Kazakhstan was in the epicentre of the global attention and close interest of the whole world. More than 6
thousand different events took place in the framework of the EXPO-2017. Kazakhstan has strengthened its image
as a safe and dynamically developing state in the Eurasian region.
Unfortunately, after the exhibition EXPO, everything returned to the normal condition. Tourists left, hotels
became empty. In place of international pavilions, the International Financial Centre and the International Centre
for Green Economy under the aegis of the United Nations appeared. Nevertheless, EXPO is primarily an image
project, and tour operators hope that the number of foreigners wishing to visit Kazakhstan will now increase [9].
The EXPO-2017 became the largest international event, a mega-project in the history of our country and the
CIS. There were representations of at least 115 countries. There were about 20 international organizations, there
were all UN offices, and the SCO had a separate pavilion [11]. EXPO was highly appreciated by the International
Exhibitions Bureau. Of course, our exhibition on green energy has shown its relevance [7].
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