Nazarbayev instructs to create commission for EXPO-2017 preparation

Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev has instructed the government to form a state commission to steer preparations for EXPO-2017 in Astana, Tengrinews.kz reports citing the President’s press-service. “Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev has issued a decree to form a State Commission on Preparation and Holding of EXPO-2017,” the press-service writes. According to the press-service, the state commission is led by Kazakhstan Prime-Minister Serik Akhmetov, deputy Prime-Minister Kairat Kelimbetov and Akim (Mayor) of Astana Imangali Tasmagambetov. The commission will include Kazakhstan's Minister of Economic Development and Trade Yerbolat Dossayev, Finance Minister Bolat Zhamishev, Minister of Transport and Communications Askar Zhumagaliyev, Foreign Minister Yerlan Idrissov, Minister of Industry and New Technologies Asset Issekeshev, Minister of Environmental Protection Nurlan Kapparov, Minister of Culture and Information Darkhan Mynbai, Chairman of Agency for Construction, Housing and Public Utilities Serik Nokin, deputy head of Kazakhstan Presidential Administration Bakhyt Sultanov. Earlier Tengrinews.kz English reported that Astana won the bid to host EXPO-2017. Kazakhstan’s main competitor was the Belgian city of Liege. Astana got 103 votes, while Liege received only 44.