The French Development Agency (AFD) has officially opened
its office in Astana. During President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s state visit to
France in November last year, the two sides signed a memorandum of
understanding. Since then, AFD has allocated over €4 million to projects in
Kazakhstan, including the development of medical infrastructure, support for
small agricultural enterprises and women’s entrepreneurship, as well as water
resource management in the Balkhash Basin and initiatives aimed at saving the Aral
Sea. AFD is currently working with Baiterek Holding and its development
institutions to explore new projects and financing mechanisms aimed at
supporting digitalization and the green transition. The Agency emphasizes
Kazakhstan’s key role in advancing the green economy in the region and its
potential to become a significant player in global climate policy.
«Kazakhstan, given the resources that the country has
regarding critical raw materials, is also a key actor because the resources
that the country carries are, of course, instrumental in order to support the
industries of the transition, both in the energy and generally around climate
issues,» said Amélie Aubert, AFD’s regional director for Central and East Asia.
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