Trade mission to target 'Borat's homeland'

Irish firms are to travel on a business trip to Kazakhstan – famously lampooned as a Third World backwater by comic character Borat.

Enterprise Ireland is organising a trade mission to the former Soviet state next month and four companies have already signed up.

Borat’s hit film, Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan outraged government officials who were forced to launch a publicity campaign in the US to undo the negative image.

The Enterprise Ireland office in Moscow is now organising a five-day visit which will mainly focus on Almaty, the largest city.

A spokesperson said: “We will support clients with pre-arranged itineraries, including a networking event with the Kazakh European Business Association and an evening reception.

“Support will also be extended to visits to other Kazakh cities.

“The March 12-16 trip will provide an excellent opportunity for clients wishing to increase their contact base and seek new business opportunities in Kazakhstan.”

The ninth largest country in the world, Kazakhstan is roughly the size of Western Europe.

Its economy is growing steadily since independence in 1991 due to rich oil and gas resources. It also exports diamonds and is one of the world’s biggest producers of grain.

Other Enterprise Ireland trade missions planned for 2007 are targeting Latvia, Croatia, Slovakia, Egypt, Jordan and Latvia.