Capital Day Astana, the main city of Kazakhstan, is celebrated annually starting on July 6, 2006. July 6 is also the birthday of the first president of the republic, Nursultan Nazarbayev.

Capital Day Astana is an official holiday of the state.
The decision to move the capital of Kazakhstan from Almaty to Akmola was made by the Supreme Council on July 6, 1994. The move to the new capital took place on October 20, 1997. The capital of Kazakhstan was renamed Astana by Decree of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan on May 6, 1998. In 1999, Astana, by decision of UNESCO, received the title “city of peace”. This year young Astana turns 19 years old.

Nursultan Nazarbayev: “Here, on the ancient land of Sary-Arka, not just a capital was born. This is the cradle of the country's future. The history of Astana and the fate of Kazakhstanis are inseparable from each other. The capital is the embodiment of the power, dynamic development and stability of our republic. Astana has become a bright, strong, prosperous city that unites all Kazakhstanis and is a forward-looking city. Our capital is the heart of our Motherland, a symbol of the people’s faith in their strength and great destiny. Today, representatives of more than a hundred nationalities live in Astana, as well as throughout Kazakhstan. Friendship of peoples, mutual understanding and solidarity – this is the basis on which Astana and the new Kazakhstan are built.”

Modern Astana is the pride of Kazakhstan, it has become the main city of the country, the center of social, political, cultural life and the young capital is growing at incredible speed and has become one of the most beautiful capitals in the world.

For the first time, the International Specialized Exhibition is being held in the center of Eurasia - in Astana. The capital of Kazakhstan received this right based on the results of a secret vote held at the Headquarters of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development in Paris at the meeting of the 152nd session of the General Assembly of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE). Competing for victory with the Belgian city of Liege, Astana received 103 of the 148 votes from the BIE participating countries. Addressing those present, the Head of State, on behalf of the Republic of Kazakhstan, thanked for the decision to hold an international exhibition in Astana: - For the first time, the EXPO will take place in the very heart of the vast Eurasian continent. I am confident that the world exhibition “Future Energy” will give a powerful impetus to transformations in the global energy sector. Our country will make every effort to ensure that it is held at the highest level,” the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan emphasized.

As the Head of Kazakhstan emphasized: EXPO in Astana is equipped with modern technologies and has already become “one of the best brands of our new capital.”

Let our young capital prosper, unite all of us Kazakhstanis, become more beautiful, and strengthen its position in the world community. Happy holiday to you, dear friends!