Even recession had little or no effect on the bilateral business ties between India and Kazakhstan. In fact, the two countries have been trying to keep the business alive since January 2009, when slump was at its peak. Both the countries have mutually agreed on cooperation in sectors of energy, civil nuclear activity, science and technology, space, pharmaceuticals and information technology. Apart from this, travel and tourism is another potential area of cooperation, which was evident in the four-day IVth Kazakhstan-India Travel and Tourism Fair, which concluded on November 20, 2009 (Friday).
Kazakhstan-India Travel and Tourism Fair was hosted in the Indian capital, Delhi at the Le Meridian Hotel. Kairat Akhmetalim, Charge D’ Affaire of the Embassy of Kazakhstan in India, was quoted saying that the travel and tourism gathering was a good tradition and reflected the high level of cooperation in the two sectors since 2006. He added that both the countries experienced inward and outward tourists and events like this provide an opportunity to promote Kazakhstan as a tourism-friendly destination.
J. P. Shaw, Deputy Director-General in the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, said that both the countries had a lot of potential and that Indian Government was using its existing infrastructure to develop and promote tourism products. He added that the government is optimistic of achieving its goals in the tourism sector, both domestically and externally. Shakira Adibekova, Deputy Director of the Kazakhstan Tourist Association (KTA), also discussed the high level of cooperation between Kazakhstan and India in the tourism sector.
Kazakhstan-India Travel and Tourism Fair was also graced by Richard Ledger, Director-Sales Air Astana and Virender Teotia, General Sales Agent for Air Astana in India. They even addressed the gathering on the occasion and revealed their intention to build brand awareness of Air Astana in India, with a focus on leisure tourism. The fair ended with a video presentation, which reflected Kazakhstan as a tourism friendly destination.
