Kazakhstan and France's trade volume increased by 31% in one year

(Report of Kazakh International News Agency) Kazakh Prime Minister Bolatbek Nurpeisov hosted the opening ceremony of the Kazakhstan-France Investment Forum on the 28th. According to the government press office, more than 300 representatives from the business circles of the two countries attended the event.

The agenda of the forum covered a wide range of topics, including the development of trade and economic relations, transportation, energy and industrial potential, food security, healthcare, sustainable urban development and improvement of urban environmental quality, as well as strengthening and diversifying housing and public services and tourism.

Last year, the trade volume between the two countries increased by 31%, reaching a record of $5.5 billion, with an export volume of $3.6 billion. French investment in Kazakhstan has reached nearly $20 billion, and currently over 200 companies with French capital are actively operating in Kazakhstan.

Kazakhstan is France's main partner, accounting for nearly 80% of France's total trade with Central Asian countries.

In his opening speech, Bolatbek Nurpeisov pointed out that thanks to the trust relationship between the heads of state of the two countries, bilateral relations have been elevated to the level of an expanded strategic partnership.

"Cooperation with France is one of the main priorities of Kazakhstan's foreign policy and an inseparable part of our cooperation within the framework of the EU. Our country has solid political ties, active intergovernmental and parliamentary dialogue, as well as thriving trade and investment interactions, forming a stable and multi-faceted partnership," he said.

The prime minister particularly mentioned some key joint projects, including the construction of a 1-gigawatt wind power station in southern Kazakhstan in collaboration with Total Energies company, Alstom's proposal for local production and new investments in the railway sector, Air Liquide's hydrogen project at the Pavlodar petrochemical plant, as well as the development of the food and dairy industry involving companies such as Danone, Lactalis, and Lidea.

Kazakhstan is committed to developing the trans-Caspian international transport route and deepening cooperation in areas such as artificial intelligence, pharmaceuticals, tourism, and water resource management.

The forum also emphasized the progress in educational and scientific cooperation, including the operation of French schools in Astana and Almaty, the Lumière Center of Abai Branch of Kazakh National Pedagogical University, and the operation of the Lorraine University branch.

Bolatbek Nurpeisov stressed that Kazakhstan is fully committed to creating a favorable investment environment for foreign partners. Currently, opportunities for investors, legal guarantees, tax incentives, special economic zones, and the Astana International Financial Center (AIFC) in Kazakhstan are receiving attention.

This forum aims to implement agreements between the presidents of Kazakhstan and France, promote the expansion of commercial cooperation, launch new investment projects, and strengthen ties between the business communities of the two countries.

At the end of the event, it is expected that a series of documents will be signed in fields such as energy, transportation, healthcare, and water resources.

Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1833408125249544/

Disclaimer: This article solely represents the author's personal views.