Dec 8, 2006

Kazakhstan Comes to Scotland

The Republic of Kazakhstan has officially opened its first West European Consulate in, of all places, Aberdeen, Scotland.

Kazakhstan tourism received a huge boost from comedian Sacha Baron-Cohen’s spoof documentary ‘Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan’. Although Borat depicts Kazakhstan as a feudal country that is violent, oppressive, sexist and racist it has attracted visitors rather than deterring them. In any case Kazakhstan is nothing like the country portrayed by the Ali G creators, latest character.

The population do not drink fermented horse urine, wear lime green thongs or live a barbaric and savage existence. Kazakhstan is not a poor and backward land but the fastest growing economy in Central Asia. And that’s down to its seemingly limitless reserves of oil and gas. It also explains why they have picked Scotland’s Granite City, Aberdeen, for their first Consulate in Western Europe.

Aberdeen is the capital of Scotland, and the UK’s, oil industry. The oil and gas men of the north have had their eyes on the former Soviet state long before Borat’s foray across the silver screen. Kazakhstan oil and gas needs expertise and equipment to get it out of the ground, process and distribute it.

The opening of the Aberdeen Consulate will put Scotland’s gas and oil industry in a strong position to take advantage of the enormous investment opportunities that exist in Kazakhstan.

The new Honorary Consul of the Republic of Kazakhstan for the consular district of Scotland is John "Tiny" Langler an Aberdeen businessman with strong links to Kazakhstan.

Aberdeen is currently issuing about 180 visas a month for Kazakhstan, mostly for business purposes. With the interest in tourist visits being generated by the Borat film this figure is likely to increase.