U.S. ambassador from Kazakhstan makes first visit to Colorado

Kazakhstan ambassador to the United States Erzhan Kazykhanov greeted South Metro Denver Chamber’s Doug Tisdale warmly in front of an image of the Kazakhstani flag. Photos by Freda Miklin

BY FREDA MIKLIN
GOVERNMENTAL REPORTER

Ambassador Erzhan Kazykhanov and his wife Danara made their first Colorado visit after being invited by South Metro Denver Chamber’s Doug Tisdale, who met the ambassador through the Consular Corps of Colorado’s Dean Dr. Deborah A. Palmieri, Honorary Consul General of Russia. The chamber held a reception for the ambassador, his wife, and their party at the Lone Tree Hub Jan. 25, where traditional vodka was on the bill of fare, chamber president and CEO Bob Golden was the bartender, and Lone Tree Mayor Jackie Millet served as host.

Kazakhstan, a former Soviet republic with a population of 18.7 million, is bordered by Russia on the north and China to its east. Its export economy is based primarily on its vast natural resources; however, it is trying to expand its markets and exports to other products, one impetus for Kazykhanov’s Colorado visit.

In his speech to the 60 local elected officials and business executives at the afternoon reception, Kazykhanov said Kazakhstan presently uses only 30 percent of its arable lands and is working closely with Israel and an American company to increase its use of irrigation.

Ambassador Kazykhanov and Kazakh Trading Company owner Charles Hopton had much to discuss.

He focused on the increasing development of medical tourism in Kazakhstan, especially for treatment of cancer and heart disease. Investing in the health care sector, representatives of Kazakhstan recently brought a new cancer treatment developed in Wisconsin and they are working with the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center to bring in other state-of-the-art medical treatments and technology.

The ambassador described the population of Kazakhstan as diverse. He said that it is 65 percent indigenous, but also includes 4.5 million Russians, 1.5 million Germans, and 200,000 Koreans. Adding that his country was home to 100,000 European Jews evacuated there during World War II, and 35,000 of them and their descendants still live there. In an interesting coincidence, Greenwood Village resident David Zapiler is one of those whose family spent three years in the city of Shymkent in Kazahkstan during WWII under those circumstances.

Charles Hopton, who attended the reception, has done business in Kazakhstan since it was part of the Soviet Union. He trades in unique pottery, fabrics and jewelry made in Kazakhstan and also has a company that provides travel adventures in the country.

fmiklin.villager@gmail.com

Lone Tree Mayor Jackie Millet hosted the reception at the Lone Tree Hub.