France expresses a
clear interest in expanding its multilateral cooperation with Kazakhstan,
encompassing both economic and cultural-humanitarian spheres, analysts say. A
testament to this is the reciprocal visit of French President Emmanuel Macron
to Astana. It is worth reminding that last year, in Paris, Kazakh President
Kassym-Jomart Tokayev initiated a new fruitful cooperation with France. Over
the past 18 years, France has invested around $17 billion in Kazakhstan.
According to political analysts, France, as the second-largest economy in
Europe and the seventh-largest in the world, is ready to make even more
investments in the country. Promising areas of cooperation, as identified by
analysts, include transport, logistics, mining, and energy, including renewable
energy. Additionally, France has a demand for Kazakhstan’s uranium and rare
earth metals.
“France generates
about 80 percent of its electricity from nuclear energy, which requires
approximately 10 tonnes of uranium. In this regard, Kazakhstan, which produces
and supplies around 22 percent of the world's total uranium production, is an
attractive supplier for France. The two countries have been cooperating for
over 30 years, having established diplomatic relations in January 1990. In
terms of the cultural and educational sphere, France is keen on enhancing the
role of the French language in Kazakhstan, as well as implementing cultural,
humanitarian and educational projects,” said political scientist Dina Aikenova.
