Kazakhstan to cancel visa regime with 34 countries
By Nazrin Gadimova
Kazakhstan plans to set a visa-free regime for 34 member-countries of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development in 2014.
Spokesperson of the Central Communications Service for the President of Kazakhstan Altai Abibullayev made the remark on December 9.
He said the decision is not linked with holding of EXPO-2017 in Astana.
"This is linked with the industrial and innovation policy of our country, with the attraction of investments in Kazakhstan. But at the same time, it can also contribute to increase the number of visitors of EXPO-2017," he said.
However, Abibullayev added, Kazakhstan's Foreign Ministry plans to issue new visa stickers with the logo of Expo-2017, the key topic of which will be the "Energy of future".
He went on to say Kazakhstan currently has visa-free regime with many countries, adding that it is planned to expand the list of direct flight to Astana from many world capitals.
Abibullayev explained that easy mode means fewer formalities for obtaining a visa and reducing its cost.
Earlier it was reported that Kazakhstan will simplify visa procedures for certain categories of persons visiting the country within the International Exhibition EXPO-2017 in Astana.
Currently, Kazakhstan has visa-free regime with such countries as Russia, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Georgia, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Moldova, Ukraine, Turkmenistan, Serbia, Macedonia, Turkey, Armenia, Mongolia and Malaysia.