East Kazakhstan, France Deepen Ties in Industry, Energy, and Tourism

Nurymbet Saktaganov, Governor of East Kazakhstan, has held a high-level meeting with French Ambassador Sylvain Guiaugue to strengthen international collaboration.

The visit by the French delegation highlighted expanding cooperation in key sectors such as industry, healthcare, tourism, energy, and education, The Caspian Post informs via Kazakh media.

Representatives from leading French companies, including Airbus Helicopters Kazakhstan and Air Liquide Munay Tech Gases, took part in the talks, which focused on concrete projects involving water supply, urban heating, water treatment, and modernizing healthcare infrastructure-from hospital construction to telemedicine implementation.

Tourism development was a key topic, with France expressing keen interest in establishing ski resorts, cable cars, and hotel infrastructure. Discussions also covered urban transport manufacturing, including buses, with the French Development Agency open to co-financing such projects.

Saktaganov proposed dedicated talks on regional gasification, emphasizing the importance of expanding gas infrastructure for the region’s development.

Aviation cooperation featured prominently, with Airbus Helicopters Kazakhstan representatives outlining plans to start local helicopter assembly and develop personnel training programs. The governor suggested creating helicopter bases in Katon-Karagay and Zaysan to support tourism and regional growth.

The delegation visited industrial sites like the Ulba-FA plant, which already cooperates with French firms, and held meetings with local universities.

Nuclear cooperation was highlighted as a promising area. France, a world leader in nuclear technology, expressed readiness to partner on workforce training and research. Proposed initiatives include joint educational programs, academic exchanges, faculty internships, and collaboration with the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA).

Given Kazakhstan’s vast uranium reserves, Saktaganov underlined the strategic value of this partnership in advancing scientific research and specialist training.

The meeting concluded with both sides reaffirming their commitment to developing detailed projects through cooperation among ministries and businesses, focusing on energy, healthcare, agriculture, transport, and tourism.