We want to take a significant part in Expo 2017 - UK Senior Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Sayeeda Warsi

Some aspects of the development of bilateral Kazakh-British cooperation have been voiced by the Senior Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of Great Britain, the Baroness Sayeeda Warsi. - Mrs Warsi, how do you assess the impact of the historic visit of the British Prime Minister to Kazakhstan in 2013 aimed at further development of bilateral relations between the UK and the Republic of Kazakhstan? - First of all, let me say that this is my fifth visit to Kazakhstan. The first time I came here in 2011, and even then we started a discussion with the Kazakh side on the possibility of organizing a visit of the British Prime Minister David Cameron. So I was glad when he came to your country. That event was very important for the development of cooperation between our countries and it allowed us to deepen and broaden our relationship. In addition there were signed contracts between companies of the two states totaling USD 1.2 billion. We cooperate with Kazakhstan in various fields, ranging from the traditional partnership in the field of oil and gas production and ending with the implementation of various projects including Expo 2017. Political cooperation is of high importance as well. Especially the unstable situation, which has being developing in the region due to the crisis in the Ukraine. Generally, economic liberalization should be one of the priorities for the state and it is very gratifying to see that Kazakhstan is firmly on the path. - It is known that among the Western countries the UK is the leader in the development of Islamic finance. Why it is like that and what are the benefits of Islamic finance you might mark for the Kazakhstani people? - The United Kingdom, as you know, is the financial capital of the world, and we would like to see Islamic finance represented in our country. The reason is that Islamic banking is an alternative form of financing. We announced that the UK will be the first non-Muslim country in the world, which will release the Muslim government bonds loan. I lead a group of global Islamic finance and investment, and the chairman of the National Bank of Kazakhstan Mr. Kelimbetov is also included in this group. This group is studying the possibility of Islamic finance and the ways it can be developed and applied in different countries. The Government intends to make the city of Almaty a center for Islamic finance in Kazakhstan, and we are now discussing the possibility of the project. - Do you think that World Expo 2017 will bring Kazakhstan any benefit? Will British companies participate in this exhibition? - I am very glad that Kazakhstan has won the right to host the exhibition. As it is a unique opportunity to show the world all its achievements. EXPO-2017 in Astana will be successful if you will show the people's personality and local color. People need to see not only the economic achievements of Kazakhstan; they should feel the warmth of this country, especially its people. No doubt, our companies will participate in the exhibition. A British company called "AEDAS" has won the tender for the construction of "Green quarter-EXPO Village" and I'm very happy about that. - Thank you for the interview.