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French Companies Eye Role in Uzbekistan’s Nuclear Energy Plants

Uzbekistan is exploring collaboration with French firms in the construction of a small-capacity nuclear power plant (SCNPP) in the Jizzakh region, according to Azim Akhmadkhodjaev, Director of Uzbekistan’s Atomic Energy Agency, in an interview with Le Figaro. Akhmadkhodjaev noted that France could offer some of the most effective solutions and support for the project. Ongoing discussions involve several French companies: Assystem for technical support, Bureau Veritas for specialist training, and Framatome for technical management of the facility. Uzbekistan’s Minister of Energy, Jurabek Mirzamakhmudov, emphasized that French companies view Uzbekistan not only as an investment opportunity but also as a technological partner. Talks have centered on training local personnel to meet the technical demands of the nuclear sector. Joanna Golas, president of the France-Uzbekistan Economic Chamber, underscored the importance of preparing skilled technical specialists for the project. Uzbekistan is also advancing its renewable energy agenda, aiming to raise the share of renewables in its energy mix from 16% to 54% by 2030. Cooperation with French companies could bolster the country's efforts to build a more sustainable and diversified energy system. Previously, Uzbekistan signed a protocol with Russia, appointing Rosatom as the main contractor for the SCNPP project in Jizzakh. The agreement includes the construction of six reactors with a combined capacity of 330 MW. A successful partnership with French firms would bring additional technological expertise to the table and complement the existing plan.

Uzbekistan and France Sign €6.5 Billion Partnership Agreements

Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev arrived in Paris on March 12 for a state visit at the invitation of French President Emmanuel Macron. The visit focused on strengthening political, economic, and cultural ties between the two countries. Expanding Cooperation with UNESCO As part of his visit, President Mirziyoyev met with Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO, to discuss Uzbekistan’s growing collaboration with the organization. The talks also covered preparations for the 43rd UNESCO General Conference, set to take place in Samarkand this autumn, the first time the event will be held outside UNESCO’s Paris headquarters in 40 years. Uzbekistan has been actively engaged with UNESCO on various cultural and educational projects. The country has joined the International Center for the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage, and Bukhara has been added to the Network of Creative Cities. Several Uzbek traditions and artifacts, such as sericulture, pottery, and the archives of the Emir of Bukhara, have also been recognized by UNESCO. Bilateral Talks and Strengthened Economic Ties During his meeting with President Macron at the Élysée Palace, Mirziyoyev discussed ways to enhance Uzbek-French relations. Both leaders noted that agreements made during their 2023 meeting in Samarkand were already being implemented. Trade between the two nations has grown significantly, surpassing €1 billion last year. The number of joint ventures has quadrupled, with French businesses increasing their presence in Uzbekistan. A series of business forums and cultural events were held in Paris, Toulouse, Lyon, and Nice, covering key areas such as medicine, science, and education. Notably, a bust of Abu Rayhan Beruni, the renowned Uzbek scholar, was unveiled in the French town of Grez-Armainville. €6.5 Billion Innovation and Industrial Partnership One of the most significant outcomes of the visit was the launch of a new Innovation and Industrial Partnership Program, which includes €6.5 billion worth of joint projects in energy, infrastructure, mining, and transport. With this, the total value of Uzbek-French projects now exceeds €12 billion. In education, an agreement was signed to establish the Uzbek-French University in Tashkent, with experienced French specialists expected to teach there. Additionally, cooperation will continue in training French language teachers in Uzbekistan. To further boost business, tourism, and cultural exchanges, both sides discussed increasing the number of direct flights between Uzbekistan and France. Signed Agreements and Strategic Partnership Following the talks, Mirziyoyev and Macron adopted a joint declaration on the establishment of a strategic partnership. Key agreements signed include: An intergovernmental agreement on the establishment of the Uzbek-French University A mutual visa exemption for diplomatic passport holders A cooperation program for investment and innovation covering €6.5 billion in projects Agreements on healthcare, music, cinema, and theater collaboration A protocol to strengthen French language education A partnership agreement between the cities of Tashkent and Paris

France to Help Kazakhstan Preserve Lake Balkhash

Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation, the French Development Agency (AFD), and the French Geological Survey (BRGM, Bureau de Recherches Géologiques et Minières) have signed a cooperation agreement to preserve Lake Balkhash. The agreement was formalized on December 4 at the One Water Summit in Saudi Arabia, attended by Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and French President Emmanuel Macron. Located 175 miles northwest of Almaty, Kazakhstan’s largest city, Lake Balkhash is the world’s fifteenth-largest lake. Under the agreement, the French side will allocate a grant of 1.35 million €uros to Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation to develop sustainable water management for the lake. The project includes a comprehensive study of the Lake Balkhash basin to create a long-term preservation plan through 2040. Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation, Nurzhan Nurzhigitov explained, "The trilateral agreement with AFD and BRGM is aimed at studying and sustainably managing water in the Lake Balkhash basin. The document provides for measuring and analyzing the state of water, modeling climate and anthropogenic influences, and forecasting the water balance until 2040. One of the goals of the project is to optimize the operating mode of the Kapchagay Reservoir to stabilize the level of Lake Balkhash. Based on the results of the study, measures will be taken to clean the rivers [feeding Balkhash], prevent soil degradation and water pollution, develop fisheries and ecotourism, and create a regulatory framework for the protection of the lake." At the summit, Kazakhstan’s Special Representative for International Environmental Cooperation, Zulfiya Suleimenova, announced that Kazakhmys Corporation, one of the country’s leading private companies, will contribute $5 million to preserve the ecosystem of Lake Balkhash and adjacent wetlands. In November, The Times of Central Asia reported that 13.5 billion cubic meters of water had been sent to Lake Balkhash via the Ili River from the Kapchagay Reservoir in 2024, raising the lake’s average water level to 341.6 meters above sea level. The Ili River, which originates in China, provides about 70% of Lake Balkhash’s water. Earlier in May, reports indicated that Balkhash’s water level had risen by 23 centimeters since the start of the year, largely due to increased rainfall and snow-melt floods during spring. Additionally, Kazakhstan and China have begun negotiations on the joint management of trans-boundary rivers, including the Ili. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, a key focus for Kazakhstan in these talks is to maintain optimal water levels in Lake Balkhash.

France to Support Development of Kyrgyzstan’s Largest Ski Resort

Kylychbek Rysaliyev, President of Kyrgyzstan’s Tourism Development Support Fund, recently met with French Ambassador to Kyrgyzstan Nicolas Faye to discuss enhancing bilateral cooperation in tourism. During the talks, Ambassador Faye reaffirmed France’s commitment to supporting the development of a major skiing complex in the Issyk-Kul region. Highlighting the importance of the Three Peaks Ski Complex project, Ambassador Faye described it as a priority for the French Embassy, promising France’s expertise in its design and execution. “The lack of direct flights between Kyrgyzstan and France currently hinders a broader influx of tourists,” noted Ambassador Faye, emphasizing that improving air connectivity could significantly boost tourism potential. Rysaliyev underscored the value of French expertise, pointing to France’s robust tourism industry, which is a key driver of its national economy. He expressed confidence that collaboration on the Issyk-Kul ski complex would facilitate valuable knowledge exchange and elevate Kyrgyzstan’s position as a global tourist destination. The Three Peaks Ski Complex, a flagship initiative announced by Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov, is already in its preparatory phase. Infrastructure improvements, including road construction, power supply, and water systems, are underway. The state-owned company Kyrgyz Courchevel has been tasked with overseeing the project’s development. The first phase of the resort, set to open by 2030, will include 60 kilometers of ski tracks out of an anticipated 200 kilometers, six ropeways, and a range of facilities such as hotels, restaurants, ethno-towns, and conference halls. The project is expected to position the Issyk-Kul region as a premier skiing destination, fostering economic growth and attracting international visitors.

Tokayev and Macron Forge New Path for French Investments in Kazakhstan

The Paris summit between Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and France’s President Emmanuel Macron was a significant event in their countries' evolving bilateral relations. The high-level discussions were centered on deepening cooperation across trade, economic investment, cultural, and humanitarian issues. The talks have reaffirmed and broadened existing frameworks, foretokening robust and diversified collaboration. The historical foundation of Kazakh-French relations, particularly in the economic sphere, has long been strong. French multinational corporations, such as TotalEnergies, have played significant roles in Kazakhstan’s major energy projects, including the Kashagan oil field. At the recently concluded summit, President Tokayev held meetings with prominent French business figures, seeking to enhance investment flows and economic partnerships across the renewable energy, infrastructure, and technology sectors. France recognizes Kazakhstan’s strategic significance in Central Asia and seeks to deepen the partnership, which also complements Europe’s generally expanding engagement with the region. The summit builds on a series of annual encounters that sustain the momentum in Kazakhstan–France relations. In November 2023, a year after President Tokayev’s trip to France in November 2022, President Macron made an official visit to Kazakhstan. This visit highlighted the shared interests between the two countries and underscored the importance of their growing cooperation. The meeting not only strengthened political dialogue but also laid the groundwork for further economic, cultural, and technological collaboration, reflecting a commitment to long-term partnership. The regularity of summits between Kazakhstan and France, besides indicating the pragmatic nature of their relationship, speaks to the personal rapport between Tokayev and Macron. The sustained, high-level engagement indicates a mutual appreciation for reliable and constructive diplomacy. The Paris summit continues the momentum and deepens the strategic significance of relations between Kazakhstan and France relations, as the new agreements demonstrate their common intention to leverage shared interests in pursuit of more comprehensive cooperation. At the 2022 meetings, 25 economic agreements were signed amounting to a value of $3 billion, according to Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. If we include the agreements signed at the 2023 meetings, then the newest agreements bring the overall total to $6.4 billion. Bilateral trade reached $4 billion from January to August this year, representing a 44.7 percent increase compared to the same period in 2023. Kazakhstan’s exports to France for the same period rose by 45.2 percent to $2.7 billion for the first eight months of 2024. These exports were heavily concentrated in crude oil and uranium. Just ahead of Tokayev's visit to Paris, the city hosted the 13th meeting of the Kazakhstan–France Business Council. Twenty-four documents were signed there, worth $2 billion, which spanned the agro-industrial, information-technology, light industry, medicine and mining sectors, not to mention a continuing interest in the energy sector. Kazakhstan’s proactive engagement, including its receptivity to French participation in the NPP consortium is in the line of the country's balanced and pragmatic approach to international partnerships. For France, this partnership deepens its footprint in Central Asia while also promoting the policy goals of broader energy diversification and geopolitical influence. Kazakhstan represents 90 percent of France’s trade with...

Kazakhstan and France – Key Take-Aways From Tokayev’s Trip to Paris

As The Times of Central Asia has reported, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev paid a state visit to Paris, during which he met with his French counterpart and held fruitful talks with representatives of major European companies. After the bilateral talks, Tokayev and French President Emmanuel Macron issued a joint statement. “This visit is significant for us. France is a close and reliable partner of Kazakhstan in the European Union. For 34 years, our relations have acquired a strategic character. Astana and Paris have established a political dialog based on mutual understanding at all levels. Ties in trade and economic, investment, cultural, and humanitarian spheres have been strengthened; a clear legal framework has been formed. Interaction within the framework of international organizations has expanded. I am confident that our partnership, based on unshakable friendship and mutual support, will be successful in the future,” Tokayev said. Both parties stated that they consider it necessary to develop trade and economic cooperation. “Last year, the two countries' trade turnover amounted to $4.2 billion. And this year, we reached this figure in 9 months. France ranks sixth in terms of investment in our country. French companies, including Alstom, Total Energies, Air Liquide, Orano, Vicat, Danone, and Lactalis, have invested heavily in Kazakhstan, reaching about $19.5 billion. Cooperation in the oil and gas, mining, industrial, construction, aviation, engineering, and health care sectors is being strengthened,” the Kazakh president said. In addition, Tokayev met in Paris with a potential supplier of nuclear technology for the construction of nuclear power plants, the CEO of Électricité de France (EDF), Luc Remona. According to the official website of the President of Kazakhstan, Akorda, “The French company is on the short list of potential suppliers of nuclear technology for constructing nuclear power plants. The country is considering the establishment of an international consortium as one of the potential models for the realization of this crucial project.” President Tokayev also participated in an investment roundtable attended by the heads of France's largest companies. “We are pleased to be one of France's main trade, economic, and investment partners in Central Asia. Kazakhstan now accounts for more than 80% of France's trade with the region. This year, bilateral trade volume has increased by 45%,” Tokayev said. The President also outlined promising areas of economic ties for the two countries. “Energy has always been a key sector of our cooperation. Astana is a major supplier of oil and uranium to the European Union and is ready to support France's energy sovereignty further. We expect an intensified presence of French industry in Kazakhstan, with which we associate the introduction of advanced technologies in our production sphere. Given that our country is the largest uranium producer in the world, and France has extensive experience in the nuclear industry, we could cooperate in civilian nuclear energy,” Tokayev stated. Tokayev emphasized that massive international companies are interested in implementing large-scale wind, solar, and hydropower projects in Kazakhstan. For example, Total Energies plans to invest $1.1 billion in a one-gigawatt wind...