Kazakhstan and France: reliable partners

France is one of the leading states of the European Union. Speaking about many important issues, France’s position is decisive and serves as an example for other states. France was one of the first states with which Kazakhstan signed the Treaty on Friendship, Understanding and Cooperation between Kazakhstan and France of September 23, 1992.

But this year marks the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the strategic partnership between two countries, which was initiated by the relevant treaty, which became the main result of the official visit of President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev to France in 2008.

"Last year in Astana, we celebrated the 25th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Kazakhstan and France, and this year we celebrate the 10th anniversary of the strategic partnership between our countries. It is very important for us that throughout these years France has been our friend and reliable partner. We cooperate in a number of areas - economics, education, science, business, tourism. Today in this hall there are representatives of the French business working in Kazakhstan. Taking this opportunity, I would like to say that the Government of Kazakhstan appreciates and supports you at all levels. France is one of the main trade partners of Kazakhstan in Europe. To date, Kazakhstan has about 140 joint ventures with the participation of the French capital. Among them there are representatives of such large companies as Airbus, Alstom and others. We want the French business to feel comfort in Kazakhstan and we conduct the active work in this direction", Bakytzhan Sagintayev said.

The Prime Minister also recalled that in 2017 Kazakhstan became an associated member of the OECD Investment Committee and joined the declaration on international investment and multinational enterprises.

"As you know, Kazakhstan has an ambitious goal to enter the top 30 of the most developed countries in the world by 2050. The OECD benchmark standards are an absolute guide for us. We have established such interactive platforms as the Council of Foreign Investors under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Council for Improving the Investment Climate under the Government, the Investment Ombudsman represented by the Minister for Investments and Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan. They successfully operate. But no matter how close the partnership is at the interstate level, it should always be reinforced by the relations between people. Nowadays citizens of France can freely travel to Kazakhstan without obtaining a visa, and our capitals are connected by direct flights. As one famous French philosopher Voltaire puts it: All the honors of this world are not worth one good friend. In France we found such a good friend", the head of the Cabinet of Ministers of Kazakhstan noted.

The participants of the meeting discussed topical issues of bilateral cooperation such as agriculture and agro-industrial complex, education and training of qualified personnel, as well as development of digital Kazakhstan.

Chairman of the Investment Committee of the Ministry for Investments and Development of Kazakhstan Yerlan Khairov informed that Eurocopter Group stated that it wants to expand partnership in Kazakhstan, as well as three new companies operating in various sectors, including in the retail sector, were presented. A company operating in the transportation sector also expressed its interest in the work of the regions of Kazakhstan.

"Therefore, today there is a direct dialogue between the business and the Government about which projects need to be jointly implemented. Eurocopter named three directions of cooperation, including joint educational programs in the field of helicopter management, the interest in cooperation in the military defense industry and the third project that was announced - the deepening of scientific cooperation in the field of space. Two companies that work in the retail sector are interested in building new trade centers, including global brands. One company is interested and stated about this in the development of cooperation in the field of transportation. Companies that already operate in Kazakhstan, including Total, are interested in the development of renewable energy, in particular, solar energy", Yerlan Khairov said.

Also, the results of the economic partnership of two countries were summed up, including the results of the work of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry France-Kazakhstan for two years, which is the organizer of this meeting.

As of the beginning of 2018, there are about 50 companies in the Chamber, among which the most famous and large are Total, Orano, Alstom, Airbus, Danone, Vicat, Peugeot. The Chamber also includes French companies representing small and medium-sized businesses and Kazakh companies with business ties in France.

This variety of members of the Chamber allows organizing monthly meetings designed to discuss and solve various topics, including issues of development of the banking sector, investment and logistics issues, and meetings of working groups on such topics as taxes, labor resources, etc.

The Chamber is represented in two cities of Kazakhstan - Almaty and Astana, and also in France - in Paris, which allows it to effectively cope with the task set for strengthening bilateral business ties. In particular, the Chamber plays an essential role in advising French public and private individuals making strategic decisions.

In support of the creation and development of the French business in Kazakhstan and Kazakhstan investments in France, the Chamber on a permanent basis closely interacts with the French Embassy in Kazakhstan, including the economic department and business of France, as well as France's foreign trade advisers.

Memoranda were also signed between the CCI France-Kazakhstan and the Investment Committee of the Ministry for Investments and Development of Kazakhstan to expand trade and economic cooperation between Kazakhstan and France.

It should be noted that the next round of development of business relations between two countries in the new format took place at the beginning of the 2000s, as a result of which today France is the third largest investor country in Kazakhstan.

Saltanat Suraganova