OREANDA-NEWS. April 28, 2014. Capsule laying ceremony was held with the participation of the President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev at the site of the exhibition complex "Astana EXPO-2017".

The event was attended by Prime Minister Karim Massimov, Head of the Presidential Administration Nurlan Nigmatulin, Minister of Environment and Water Resources Nurlan Kapparov, Akim of Astana Imangali Tassmagambetov, Chairman of the Board of JSC "NC "Astana EXPO -2017" Talgat Yermegiyaev.

Having laid the capsule, the President launched the start of construction of the exhibition. Its total area is 174 hectares, and facilities with an area of over one million square meters will be constructed here.

National company management presented construction schedule to Nursultan Nazarbayev. Main construction works are planned for the period from May 2014 to December 2016. Master plan of the complex was developed in conjunction with the German company "Albert Speer" and approved by the President of Kazakhstan.

The exhibition area of the complex will accommodate national pavilion of Kazakhstan, international, corporate and themed pavilions, shopping, entertainment and service facilities. Out of the exhibition area there will be a conference center, a press center, indoor city, houses and hotels.

Introduction of a modernized electricity system that uses information and communication networks and technologies is planned. This will improve the efficiency, reliability, economic benefits and the sustainability of production and distribution of electricity both from alternative energy sources and urban networks.

In accordance with the Convention on international exhibitions, exhibition EXPO-2017 in Astana will last for three months - from June 10 to September 10, 2017. It is expected that the event will be attended by more than 100 countries. About five million visits to exhibitions and more than two million visitors are expected.