Kazakhstan partook in Lord Mayor’s Show in London
This year’s Lord Mayor’s Show taken place on 9 November in London witnessed Kazakhstan's participation including the procession of ancient Kazakh nomad warriors, the performance of a young jazz band from the Kazakh National University of Arts (KazNUA), the country's picturesque landscapes, lavish investment opportunities and the Kazakh language, Strategy2050.kz informs with reference to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Kazakhstan’s participation was made possible thanks to the support of KAZ Minerals PLC, Tengri Capital and Treyford Holdings BV.
Aiman Mussakhajayeva, KazNUA Rector and People’s Artist of Kazakhstan, was the event's honoured guest.
Tens of thousands of residents and guests of London had the opportunity to get to know Kazakhstan during the Lord Mayor’s Show. The BBC One commentators broadcasting the event live for millions of viewers were specifically interested in the mighty warriors (sarbaz) in ancient Kazakh armour made of leather, metal and fur. While interviewing the Kazakh participants, viewers learned about Kazakhstan’s culture and historical traditions, as well as its tourist and investment opportunities. One of the warriors holding Kazakhstan’s flag also spoke briefly about the traditional armour of his great ancestors.
The 800-year old Show is held every year to celebrate the election of a new Lord Mayor of the City of London. The City is a historic district of London bustling with banking and entrepreneurial activities, which turned London into one of the world’s major financial centres. The Lord Mayor is elected annually among the most respected representatives of UK business. This year, Alderman William Russell is elected the 692nd Lord Mayor. As the elected head of the City of London Corporation, he will serve as a global ambassador for UK business and financial sectors. He also plans to visit Kazakhstan next year.
As a leading destination for investment in the region, Kazakhstan is working closely with UK partners to strengthen the bilateral relations, including a strong relationship with the City of London. The City of London provided strong support in the establishment of the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC), the Astana International Exchange (AIX), as well as the Court and the arbitration system based on English common law.
The annual show brings together thousands of people, more than 140 participating organisations and dozens of marching bands in a festive procession. This year, the Embassy of Kazakhstan in the UK became the 100th member of the joyful procession. Kazakhstan’s float surprised the audience with the contrast and harmony of modernity and history, embodied in the joint performance of the young and energetic KazNUA jazz band and the ancient Kazakh warriors from the Orda ethno-project.
The KazNUA jazz band is the winner of numerous prestigious international jazz festivals around the world. The event saw them performing the jazz classics as The Jazz Police by Gordon Goodwin and Sir Duke by Stevie Wonder, along with folk Kazakh songs in jazz interpretation, such as Sarzhailau and Qamazhai.
The youngsters were comfortably settled on a mobile float specially designed and built in Kazakhstan’s national colours to present the diversity of the country’s culture and nature, as well as the investment and tourist opportunities through colourful banners and videos.
Photo credit: Kazakh foreign ministry
