New stage of partnership between Kazakhstan and France
The President of Kazakhstan will pay a state visit to France on November 4-5, where he plans to engage in high-level meetings. The leaders of both countries intend to hold talks focused on strengthening cooperation and discussing the international and regional agenda. Read more about the prospects for developing relations between Astana and Paris in the analytical report by Kazinform News Agency correspondent.
The most important strategic partner
France is the most important strategic, trade, economic and political partner of Kazakhstan. Most of the trade with Central Asia - 90% - is through Kazakhstan.
Diplomatic relations between Kazakhstan and France were established on January 25, 1992. For 31 years, they were filled with regular fruitful visits of the heads of state. French leaders visited Kazakhstan four times - Francois Mitterrand in 1993, Nicolas Sarkozy in 2009, Francois Hollande in 2014 and Emmanuel Macron in November 2023.
President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev paid an official visit to France at the invitation of Emmanuel Macron in November 2022. During the visit, the leaders of the two countries held talks on strengthening trade and economic relations, discussed current issues in the Central Asian region and the international agenda.
In addition, the President of Kazakhstan held several meetings with representatives of the French business community, during which the parties considered the prospects for implementing joint projects in various areas, including energy and the transport sector. At the end of his visit, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan, during this visit of the President of Kazakhstan to France, 25 economic documents were signed for a total of $3 billion.
Less than a year later, the French President made a return visit to Kazakhstan - Emmanuel Macron arrived in Astana on an official visit on November 1, 2023. The heads of state held talks on strengthening trade, economic, investment and energy cooperation, discussed issues on the international and regional agenda. Kassym-Jomart Tokayev noted that France is a key and reliable partner of our country in the European Union, as well as one of the largest investors in the economy of Kazakhstan. In turn, Emmanuel Macron highly appreciated the relations between Kazakhstan and France.
Leading expert of the Department of European and American Studies of the Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan (KazISS) Alisher Abdreshev notes that in recent years the dynamics of bilateral cooperation between Astana and Paris has increased significantly. The explanation for such intensity of bilateral dialogue is the wide range of interstate cooperation, which is of a strategic partnership nature. Last year, Astana and Paris celebrated an anniversary date - 15 years since the signing of a key strategic document. The upcoming meeting of the presidents in Paris promises to be productive in solving strategic issues of cooperation.
“The leaders of the two countries certainly have something to discuss. France is one of Kazakhstan's key political and economic partners in the European region. In addition to issues on the bilateral agenda, it is also important to "synchronize watches" on current issues on the international and regional agenda. Thus, the Republic of Kazakhstan remains determined to maintain and deepen mutually beneficial partnership with France in a variety of vectors,” says Abdreshev.
Mutual trade turnover increased by 45%
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan, over the past decade, the volume of bilateral trade and economic relations has amounted to between $2.5 and $6.5 billion per year, with Kazakhstan's exports accounting for 80-90% of the total.
Kazakhstan and France signed two key agreements that gave impetus to the successful development of relations between the countries - this is the Treaty of Friendship, Mutual Understanding and Cooperation, which included a protocol on economic cooperation between the governments of the countries - from September 23, 1992, as well as the Treaty of Strategic Partnership from June 11, 2008. This has borne fruit. Currently, France is one of the top 5 trade and investment partners of Kazakhstan. Since 2005, France has invested more than $19 billion in Kazakhstan.
Trade between the countries is growing rapidly every year. According to the Ministry of Trade and Integration of the Republic of Kazakhstan, mutual trade turnover between Kazakhstan and France for January-August 2024 amounted to $4 billion, which is 44.7% higher than for the same period of the previous year ($2.7 billion).
Exports from Kazakhstan to France in January-August 2024 increased by 45.2% compared to 2023 and reached $2.7 billion. Our country exports crude oil - $2.4 billion, uranium - $158.4 million, titanium and products made from it - $51.3 million, turbojet and turboprop engines, other gas turbines - $19.1 million, hydrogen, inert gases and other non-metals - $5.5 million, rapeseed - $5.2 million, electrical machines and special-purpose equipment - $3.8 million, sulfur - $1.4 million.
Imports from France to Kazakhstan in January-August 2024 increased by 43.5%, reaching $1.3 billion. The main import goods are aircraft - $596.7 million, medicines, perfumes and toilet water - $32.6 million, cosmetics for skin care, decorative cosmetics - $30.3 million, consoles, panels, tables for electrical equipment - $23.8 million, parts of equipment for controlling electric current - $23.8 million, carbon electrodes - $23.5 million.
More than 200 operating enterprises with French capital are successfully operating in Kazakhstan, including such large groups as Total, Orano, Alstom, Danone, Vicat, Saint Gobain and others implementing high-tech projects. Earlier, the Head of State noted that "Kazakhstan will create all the necessary conditions for French companies to increase their presence in the Kazakhstani market, especially in the petrochemical industry, green energy, aviation, manufacturing, transport and logistics."
The leading expert of KazISS emphasized that French companies are interested in participating in Kazakhstani projects for the construction and modernization of water management facilities. This will make a significant contribution to the development of infrastructure projects in the field of water conservation in our country.
“The prospects for cooperation look quite promising, since the agenda of the bilateral dialogue is becoming more multi-component every year. Astana and Paris have long gone beyond simple trade interaction,” summed up Abdreshev.
It should be noted that the Kazakh-French Business Council, co-chaired by the Chairman of the Board of Directors of JSC Visor Holding Aidan Karibzhanov and the CEO of the Vicat group of companies Guy Sidos, plays an important role in the development of economic partnership.
Intercultural Seasons and Abai's Bust in Paris
Cultural and humanitarian ties between the two countries are developing very dynamically. In 2013-2014, Kazakhstan and France organized intercultural seasons for the first time in the history of bilateral relations. Every year, starting in 2018, France has been organizing the “Kazakhstani Autumn in France” seasons, the program of which includes concerts of traditional and classical music, art and photo exhibitions, fashion shows, as well as a festival of Kazakhstani cinema.
In December 2021, a bust of Abai was unveiled at the Poets’ Square in Paris, and a cooperation pact was signed between the capitals of the two countries.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan, negotiations are also underway to organize a Kazakh national exhibition at the Louvre Museum, as well as intercultural days in 2025-2026.
In December 2023, the largest Christmas market in Paris hosted Astana Week, where Kazakhstani artisans presented their products to residents and guests of France. Also, in the capital of world fashion, exhibitions, concerts, art master classes and other events dedicated to Astana Days in Paris were held as part of the cooperation pact between the capitals of the two countries in 2023.
Exchange visits of representatives of educational and medical institutions of both countries, as well as other joint events, are also organized on a regular basis.
According to data for the 2023 academic year, 8 students of the Kazakhstani Bolashak program and 24 students of the bilateral Abai-Vern program are registered at French universities. According to the French authorities, 603 Kazakhstani students are currently studying in France. Representative offices of the Alliance Française successfully operate in Astana, Almaty, Aktobe, Karaganda and Shymkent. Representatives of the Campus France agency are also actively working in Astana and Almaty.
