Astana entrepreneurs learning English for EXPO 2017

Astana entrepreneurs have to learn English by 2017, deputy head of Entrepreneurship and Industry Department of Astana administration Rysgul Kaugabayeva told Tengrinews.kz. All Kazakhstan companies are advised to have at least one representative who speaks English for EXPO 2017: "Representatives of small and medium businesses have to speak English by the time EXPO exhibition is held in 2017, at least one representative per a company. This is especially important for shops, taxis and laundries. This should be made a priority for the companies involved in services." There is no centralized effort: "The learning is done in a private manner, everybody is learning English at their own expense and choice of teaching establishment," Kaugabayeva said. According to her, the are plans to open a special large training center teaching English. "This is not a must right now in Kazakhstan. But some of the countries that hosted an EXPO entered this requirement into the law before the exhibition. We will probably consider doing this as well. We all understand that if this is made part of a law, then we will have a very clear picture of the responsibilities and requirements. And these efforts will be rewarded in future," she added. By Shynar Ospanova