OREANDA-NEWS. The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) is participating in the International Specialized Exhibition, Expo 2017, which opened in Astana, Kazakhstan, on 10 June and will run until 10 September 2017.

The Expo will last 93 days and involve the participation of representatives from 115 countries and 22 international organizations, including OPEC. Two million people are projected to attend the event, with each guest expected to visit the exposition two or more times, meaning that the estimated total number of visits will be around five million. Overall, 38 facilities have been built within the exposition area, covering 174 hectares. One of the main attractions at the exposition is the Nur Alem pavilion, a symbol of the Expo and the world's largest spherical construction measuring 80 metres in diameter.

‘Energy of the Future’ is the theme of Expo 2017 and it aims to foster discussion on the impact of energy consumption on the lives of people and the future of the planet. The Expo will also showcase future energy solutions intended to address social, economic and environmental challenges.

Opening the exhibition, the President of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev, said “six thousand different events are planned in the Expo 2017 program. They will promote mutual understanding between countries, productive cooperation between science and businesses.” President Nazarbayev also stressed that, “humanity is on the point of creating a highly efficient source of energy and our Expo will contribute to the development of clean energy.” The Opening Ceremony, which took place in the main concert hall of the building Expo 2017, was attended by 17 heads of state and governments.

Expo 2017 occurs at an auspicious time for relations between OPEC and Kazakhstan. In 2016, Kazakhstan was a participant to the historic ‘Declaration of Cooperation’ between OPEC Member Countries and 11 non-OPEC oil producing countries. This landmark cooperation is an effort by leading oil producing nations to ensure  much needed market stability. Last month, the countries agreed to extend the production adjustments for a further nine months, with a view to ensuring a sustainable oil market for the benefit of producers, consumers, the industry and the global economy.

Astana was chosen in 2012 by the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) as the venue to host Expo 2017. It is the first time that a major international exhibition of this kind will take place in a country from the former Soviet Union.