Tengrinews.kz – President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said the country is ready to become a reliable European partner in the field of critical minerals, citing Akorda.
Tengrinews.kz – President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said the country is ready to become a reliable European partner in the field of critical minerals, citing Akorda.
“Kazakhstan is ready to supply 21 of the 34 minerals included in the EU’s list of critical raw materials. To make the most of this potential, we propose an offtake-based cooperation model. This will contribute to the development of domestic processing and the creation of high-value-added production facilities. One outcome of this partnership will be the establishment of a regional research center for rare-earth metals,” Tokayev said during the Kazakhstan–EU roundtable in Brussels.
“At the same time, Kazakhstan remains committed to advancing the global energy transition. As is well known, our country is the world’s largest uranium producer, meeting around 40 percent of global demand. Alongside our substantial reserves of oil, gas and coal, we are actively developing green hydrogen production projects. Kazakhstan also possesses significant undeveloped reserves of lithium, nickel, vanadium and cobalt. Ultimately, we offer our partners a pragmatic formula: investment and technology in exchange for access to strategic resources, in full compliance with European standards,” the President noted.
According to the Head of State, Kazakhstan is consistently strengthening its strategic position as a reliable partner and guarantor of the European Union’s energy supply.
“Over the past year, Kazakh crude oil accounted for almost 13 percent of supplies to the European market. We reaffirm our unwavering commitment to expanding cooperation with European partners aimed at increasing supply volumes and strengthening regional energy security. In this regard, ensuring the stable and reliable operation of the Caspian Pipeline Consortium remains a vital strategic priority,” Tokayev emphasized.
Addressing the participants, Tokayev noted that relations between Kazakhstan and the EU had acquired a genuinely strategic character.
“Today, the European Union is our largest trade and investment partner, accounting for almost half of all foreign direct investment attracted to Kazakhstan. Bilateral trade exceeded $45 billion last year alone. This success has received international recognition. According to UNCTAD’s latest World Investment Report, Kazakhstan ranks first in Central Asia in attracting foreign direct investment and remains a leader among post-Soviet countries and developing landlocked nations.
Around 4,000 European companies operate successfully in Kazakhstan. Many of them, including Airbus, Polpharma Group, Air Liquide Group, Škoda Group and Alstom, have been reliable partners for decades. We are also pleased to welcome a new generation of European investors, including Roca Group, Inditex, Maersk, Dewulf and Damen Shipyards Group,” the President said.
As a reminder, on Monday, June 22, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev arrived in Brussels on an official visit. The following day, the Head of State held talks with European Council President António Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. The parties discussed the further development of the partnership between Kazakhstan and the European Union.
A joint statement was adopted following the talks. In it, EU leaders reaffirmed their intention to deepen cooperation with Kazakhstan under the Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement signed in December 2015. According to von der Leyen, mutual trade between Kazakhstan and the EU has more than doubled in the 10 years since the agreement was signed.
