AKIPRESS.COM - Kazakhstan has confirmed it will be participating in EXPO 2020 Dubai. The announcement comes just weeks before the Central Asian nation hosts its own EXPO in Astana, reports say.

Khairat Lama Sharif, Ambassador of Kazakhstan to the UAE, delivered a letter from Bakytzhan Sagintayev, Prime Minister of Kazakhstan, confirming the nation’s official participation in EXPO 2020 Dubai, to Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Expo 2020 Dubai Higher Committee, the press service of the Kazakh foreign ministry reported.

Kazakhstan’s own Astana EXPO-2017 with the theme of ‘Future Energy’ opens its doors on 10th June. The UAE is one of the nations taking part, formally announcing its participation more than two years ago, and will have the largest pavilion. The UAE was the first Arab country to confirm participation and aims to help Kazakhstan achieve its long-term goals by taking part.

Reem Al Hashimy, UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation and Director General of the Dubai EXPO 2020 Bureau, said, "Kazakhstan’s participation in EXPO 2020 Dubai builds on the strong relations between our two countries that date back more than 25 years and also witnesses yet another important window opening for Expo 2020 Dubai.

"Kazakhstan is a thriving country with a lot of successful institutions, both in the public and private sectors, that are drawn to the opportunities Expo 2020 will present in terms of innovation and culture. "We would like to welcome Kazakhstan as it joins us on our journey to 2020 and beyond."

Meanwhile, UAE investments in Kazakhstan grew to $2 billion between 2005 and the first quarter of 2016, with about 200 Emirati companies operating in the country.