Ambassador Ong Keng Yong, a former Secretary-General of ASEAN and Executive Deputy Chairman of  RSIS, wrote this opinion piece about how the first step in bridging the gap between Kazakhstan and Southeast Asia lies in tourism. “Truth is, there is plenty of potential in Kazakhstan for Southeast Asian investors and entrepreneurs,” wrote Mr Ong. “Tourism development will pave the way for more collaborations between Asean countries and Central Asia, on the economic and political fronts. Business and investors will no longer see Kazakhstan as a mysterious land, but a place of untapped opportunities,” he added.