Cooperation between Kazakhstan and France is gaining momentum. The positive trend was reached over 25 years since the establishment of the diplomatic ties. Recently, Astana and Paris hosted celebrations marking the 10th anniversary of the bilateral strategic partnership. Moreover, French President Emmanuel Macron may pay an official visit to Kazakhstan by the end of the year.

HUGUES FANTOU, DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF DEPARTMENT, FRENCH MINISTRY OF EUROPE AND FOREIGN AFFAIRS:
- Kazakhstan has been France’s strategic partner over the last 10 years. We have a very sustainable cooperation in all areas which is supported by the high quality dialogue of the highest level between our authorities.

French businesses are the largest investors in the Kazakh economy and France is the top five biggest trading partners of Kazakhstan. There are about 170 French companies in the country. Over the last five years, the total volume of the capital investments made up US$14 billion and the bilateral trade exceeded US$43 billion.

EMMANUEL DUPUY, PRESIDENT, IPSE INSTITUTE, FRANCE:
- French companies are widely represented in Kazakhstan’s market of 18 million people and beyond. It resulted from Kazakhstan’s Eurasian integration and cooperation as the country is the member of the EAEU, the SCO and is the first country located along the Chinese One Belt, One Road mega project. Astana EXPO 2017 showed that green energy plays an important role in the development of sustainable economy.

The French businesses are ready to further boost cooperation with Kazakh entrepreneurs. The most attractive cooperation fields include energy, digital transformation, culture and education.