RIYADH: The Kingdom will take part with the largest pavilion in the Expo 2017 in Astana, Kazakhstan Deputy Minister Rapil Zhoshybayev told Arab News in an interview in Riyadh on Wednesday.

The visiting minister was speaking to Arab News following a presentation he made at the Council of Saudi Chambers (CSC) in the presence of its president, Abdul Rahman Al-Zamil, and his officials in Riyadh on Thursday.

Kazakhstan Ambassador Bakhyt Batyrshayev was also present at the event. Following the presentation, two memoranda of understanding were signed between Kazakhstan and two private sector companies in Riyadh.

The visiting official said the Saudi pavilion will be the largest since it has requested a floor space of 747 square meters out of the 1,000 allocated to each country. “Already 51 countries and 11 international organizations have expressed their willingness to participate in the show and we are expecting more than 100 countries,” he added. He also pointed out that the country is spending billions of dollars on the proposed show.

“Next year we are planning to introduce a direct flight from Riyadh to Astana to enable people from the Kingdom to travel easily with comfort,” he said, adding that the visa regulations will also be made easier in the coming months to promote tourism in the country.

Chairman of Riyadh-based Al Tayyar Saleh Alkhalil signed an agreement to promote the exhibition and tourism among Saudi businessmen and people in the Kingdom, while Harris Moosa, business head of Modern Traveler Services Co. Ltd. (VEGA) signed the accord with National Company-Astana EXPO-2017, to extend support to Kazakhstan, through his company’s network of branches in GCC countries, Egypt, Tunisia, India and Pakistan.