Foreign media on Kazakhstan: Emmanuel Macron’s visit, ArcelorMittal, Saiga antelopes

From the visit of French President Emmanuel Macron to Kazakhstan, the blast that killed 46 miners at ArcelorMittal Temirtau and the subsequent nationalization to the efforts to regulate the population of once-threatened Saiga antelopes, Kazinform presents a review of foreign media coverage about Kazakhstan this week. 

The Guardian: Emmanuel Macron vows to boost French cooperation with Kazakhstan

The Guardian published an article on covering French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to Kazakhstan on November 1.

The Guardian writes that the French President Emmanuel Macron has “vowed to boost cooperation with Kazakhstan.”

“At a meeting with Kazakhstan’s President, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Macron announced business deals, including a declaration of intent for a partnership in the much-sought area of rare earths and rare metals,” writes the Guardian.

It goes on to highlight that France is the fifth-biggest foreign investor in Kazakhstan, ahead of China.

“Mainly because of the involvement of energy companies TotalEnergies in the massive Kashagan offshore oilfield project,” reads the article.

BBC: Why France's Emmanuel Macron is courting Central Asia

BBC published an article on November 1, delving into the visit of Emmanuel Macron to Kazakhstan.

BBC writes the visit “highlights the region's increasing importance to Europe's supply of nuclear and fossil fuels.”

“The trip is partly an attempt to drum up business and foster links with Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, but the key to understanding the presidential visit dates back to July. A military coup in the West African country of Niger raised the prospect that supplies to France's vital nuclear industry might be in jeopardy. In reality, the fears were overblown. Last year, Niger was only the second supplier of uranium to France. The first was the Central Asian country of Kazakhstan,” writes BBC.

Al Jazeera: Macron visits Kazakhstan on strategic tour of Central Asia

Macron’s visit to Kazakhstan was the focus of the article published by Al Jazeera on November 1.

“The French leader met Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on Wednesday, holding talks to ‘accelerate cooperation’ in key sectors,” writes Al Jazeera.

The article notes France is the fifth-biggest foreign investor in Kazakhstan. “The longstanding relationship includes the massive Kashagan offshore oilfield project partnered with French energy giant TotalEnergies, as well as a uranium mine run by French company Orano, the head of which is among Macron’s delegation,” reads the article.

Daily News Hungary: PM Orbán receives high state honour in Kazakhstan

Daily news Hungary published an article on November 2, covering the visit of Prime Minister of Hungary Viktor Orbán to Kazakhstan.

“Prime Minister Viktor Orbán paid a friendly visit to the Republic of Kazakhstan. On this occasion, he received the first degree of the Kazakh State Order of Friendship from the President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev,” writes the Hungarian news agency.

It quotes Orbán speaking at a press conference in Astana, during which he thanked Tokayev for the state award “bestowed on him in the spirit of Kazakh-Hungarian friendship.”

“Orbán noted that a decision was taken nine years ago to elevate Hungarian-Kazakh relations to a high strategic level and the results were already visible this year and economic cooperation may expand further in the future. He expressed his gratitude to Tokayev for not only discussing economic issues at the talks, but also global security issues, and noted that the topic would come up again at the 10th summit of the Organization of Turkic States on Friday,” writes the agency.

Financial Times: ArcelorMittal agrees to transfer its Kazakhstan operations to government

Financial Times published an article on October 30, reporting that ArcelorMittal has agreed to transfer ownership of its operations in Kazakhstan to the Kazakh government after a series of tragic incidents in recent years, including a devastating underground coalmine fire on October 28 that killed 46 miners.

“The world’s second-largest steelmaker said it had been in talks with the government over the future of its subsidiary, ArcelorMittal Temirtau, for several months and had only recently signed a preliminary agreement to transfer ownership to the state. The company’s operations in Kazakhstan span iron ore and coal mines, as well as a steel plant,” writes Financial Times.

The article notes that on October 31 morning, the company's shares faced a nearly 5 percent decline in trading.

Bloomberg: TotalEnergies, Alstom Sign Deals During Macron’s Kazakhstan Trip

Bloomberg published an article on November 1 about the deals signed between Kazakhstan and France during French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to Astana.

“TotalEnergies SE signed a deal to help develop a wind farm in Kazakhstan and Alstom SA reached one on potentially manufacturing electric trains, as President Emmanuel Macron concluded a visit to the nation before heading to neighboring Uzbekistan on Thursday,” writes Bloomberg.

The two countries also signed agreements to set up a branch of France’s sustainable development agency, and French language activities and geological research.

“Macron’s tour in resource-rich Central Asia is aimed at boosting France’s energy security, according to two people familiar with the French president’s thinking, who asked not to be identified discussing diplomatic matters. The efforts are in keeping with a wider European effort to diversify away from Russian fossil fuels on which the bloc relied,” writes Bloomberg.

Japan News: Kazakhstan Authorizes Hunting of Saiga Antelopes

Japan News reported on October 28, covering Kazakhstan’s efforts to legalize hunting of Saiga antelopes to manage their population.

“The government said there are currently around two million Saiga antelopes. Once threatened with extinction, the antelopes are still on the red list of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature,” writes the agency.

It quotes Ecology Minister Erlan Nysanbayev who said at a press briefing that the regulation of the Saigas is “necessary.”

“This species is damaging farming,” added Nysanbayev.

Saiga antelopes are known for their unique, rounded nose and primarily inhabit the steppe regions of central, western, and northwestern Kazakhstan. The post-Soviet Union era saw a significant surge in illegal hunting for saiga antelopes, and their population faced additional threats due to a shortage of water and disease.