'Battle-proven' companies to build EXPO-2017: Nazarbayev

Kazakhstan president Nursultan Nazarbayev has entrusted construction of EXPO-2017 facilities to “battle-tested” companies, Tengrinews correspondent reports.

"All of you, contractors, are entrusted with building the EXPO-town that we will show to the world as proof of our ability to deliver on time and in good quality. I know you all, you've proven yourself in other projects, and this job is a gift to you, a privilege to encourage you. We could have invited different construction companies," Nazarbayev said.

"Many applied. But I believe we are going the right thing by letting our local companies and the companies that have long been working in Kazakhstan and have shown their worth over the years work on these projects. You are "battle-proven". You have never let us down, so do not do so now. Let us work! Our task is to put in the piles, lay the foundation and provide access to the first floors by October, before the winter begins, so that we can continue construction during the winter. Time is short, the schedule is tough, but it must be met," Nazarbayev said.

The accommodation being built for the EXPO will be transformed into housing for the local residents after the exhibition is over, the president promised. 

"Our task is to think about the future use of all these facilities after the EXPO-2017 is over. All the accommodation that will be initially commissioned as hotels, should later be used as housing, as apartments for citizens of Kazakhstan. All the shopping centers, entertainment centers, research centers must be put to good use as well. There are plently of examples when countries built all the facilities, held the exhibition, but then left the buildings idle and empty", we should not become one of those examples, the president said.

Reporting by Altynai Zhumzhumina, writing by Dinara Urazova, editing by Tatyana Kuzmina