Being a mayor is still a Medieval occupation. The position today calls for urgent solutions to traffic congestion, affordable housing, security and sanitation concerns; just as it did in 12th century Europe where it originated. Naturally, the scope and scale of problems has changed as did the available tools and required skill-sets. The public profile of mayors has increased dramatically in recent years as urbanization became a definitive global trend with the likes of New York’s former mayor Michael Bloomberg or London’s current leader Sadiq Khan dominating international news cycles. How does one take over a city that’s undergoing an unprecedented growth spurt for almost two decades into its inauguration as a capital of a newly independent nation? Ask mayor Asset Issekeshev of Astana, Kazakhstan.
Astana is one of a few capital cities purposefully developed for its role. Washington, D.C. would be an earlier example followed by less successful urban experiments like Brasília in Brazil or Canberra in Australia. First settled in 1830 by the rogue Siberian Cossacks, the town became a focal point of the ambitious Soviet agrarian campaign in late 1960s before being selected as a Kazakh capital in 1997. Since then, its population has quadrupled and has surpassed the million residents mark. This oasis of the steppes attracted nearly $40 billion in investments, both private and public, and counting. Astana now hosts EXPO 2017, an unrivaled global platform to showcase a city, a nation, a people. It can also reveal any flaws and cracks in the system. I sat down with Mayor Issekeshev to discuss dreams under pressure.
There is a great quote by writer Italo Calvino… “You take delight not in a city’s seven or seventy wonders, but in the answer that it gives to your questions.” What is Astana’s big question?
Mayor Asset Issekeshev: Three words. Global. Smart. City. When I first came here twenty years ago, the idea seemed impossible. There was little but wide-open sky in every direction. President Nazarbayev envisioned more than a government hub, but a vital center like Dubai in the Gulf region or Singapore in South East Asia. Today Astana is the new home base for Eurasia. We are definitely the fastest growing city in Central Asia in terms of population with average annual growth rate of 10%. Just for comparison many Chinese cities leading the global ranking are growing at 5-6% a year. Investors and tourists need anchor places with good travel infrastructure, favorable legal climate, and stable security. It’s about more than good shopping and fun.
What does a global smart city look like in practical terms?
Mayor: First and foremost, it must be convenient for the global citizens. We are focused on efficient transportation and safety. There is a brand-new airport with short flights connecting India, Russia, China, the Gulf and other important markets. All the best hotel brands are already here. We ordered 700 buses to completely change the traffic patterns and now nearly half the residents commute this way. Soon there will be a light rail with 18 stations. A city must be easy to get around and we are working on it. Secondly, Astana has a special economic zone with its own Financial Center that operates within a special legal regime based on English Common Law and in developing partnership with NASDAQ and Shanghai Stock Exchange. Plus, we never forget about diverse culture and green, sustainable environment which are important for high living standards. Besides we are following all OECD recommendations, Kazakhstan as a whole keeps the 35th place among 190 countries in the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business ranking. Via our Astana Social Entrepreneurial Corporation we aim at making Astana a very attractive investment destination both for local businessmen and international companies.
Economics often define the fate of cities. What is Astana’s outlook?
Mayor: Of course, when we think about city development, we must look beyond the horizon. How do you create 50,000 jobs?! Build another factory, again and again? [Laughs] It is not a sustainable model for a city in 21st century. Though we account now for 40% of the Nation’s construction projects, we also focus on other opportunities. Attracting global companies and institutions opens a huge new service sector. For example, in Brussels and Geneva there are thousands of law firms providing services to international networks like EU and UN. The competition is not for square meters or elite staff, but for ideas. Astana is a platform, a launchpad for future technologies, particularly in energy. On one hand, we can champion efficiency with our Green Quarter and other similar sustainable projects. On the other hand, this dynamic part of the world needs more electricity and we can help fill in those gaps. Education is another priority segment. We have pioneering medical programs with Pittsburg University and introduced smart agriculture with academic partners in Germany and California. Economic transformation trigger advances in culture and formation of a new mentality. Our President always challenges me to think about long-term legacy in these decisions.
So, in terms of cities on a world stage, is it partnership or competition?
Mayor: That is two sides of the same coin that in the end benefits everyone. Think of it like peer education. [Laughs] I believe Astana has a good destiny, because there is no other place rooted in the best nomadic traditions like Kazakhstan. That is very important in our very mobile world now. Did you know that the Bozok settlement near Astana is one of the most important modern archeological sites demonstrating the early stage of Turkic nomadic culture expansion? We are excavating it now and turns out that this place was already an intercultural trade center perhaps as early as 8th century!
How has EXPO impacted Astana?
Mayor: It is a great honor and a serious test. We try to proactively address all concerns and look for opportunities to see this infrastructure through into the future. There will be 700 cultural events during these 93 days in Astana. Dubai hosts 4000+ conferences, exhibitions, and other events per year. That’s a good goal for event tourism, for example. In 2015, Milan EXPO had 20 million visitors! We want everyone who comes to Astana to share their experience and return with others. I am not worried about hospitality. Hospitality is in our genes. I remember when I was little my mother always had candies for me and my friends in case they come by the house. [Laughs]. We always save the best for the guests.
The stakes are high for this new city and its new mayor. As part of a myriad EXPO festivities, this month Astana hosts a marathon, a duathlon, and a triathlon. Someone in the room jokes that it feels like the municipal taskforce must run all three. However, there are many indicators that the city is in good visionary hands. Intelligent Community Forum named it among top Smart 21 cities in the world for its use of digital technologies at the service of local economy and society. Astana’s network of twin cities include Ankara, Turkey and Seoul, South Korea as role models of geopolitical significance. This summer, Mayor Asset Issekeshev guarantees everyone a warm welcome to those interested to discover Astana.
Follow ASTANA on its official mayoral Instagram.
