ASTANA – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev met with French business leaders to discuss opportunities for collaboration in the energy, nuclear and logistics sectors following the investment round table in Paris on November 5.

Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev met with French business leaders in Paris on November 5. Photo credit: Akorda

Electricité de France: potential supplier of nuclear technology pre-selected

Tokayev’s meeting with Luc Rémont, CEO of Électrcité de France (EDF), the world’s largest operator of nuclear power plants, focused on energy cooperation, including nuclear technology.

Tokayev noted that EDF was on Kazakhstan’s shortlist of potential nuclear technology suppliers for its planned nuclear power plant. He also raised the possibility of forming an international consortium to support the project.

Tokayev’s meeting with Luc Rémont, CEO of Électrcité de France (EDF), the world’s largest operator of nuclear power plants, focuses on energy cooperation, including nuclear technology. Photo credit: Akorda

Remont expressed EDF’s commitment to continuing its partnership with Kazatomprom, Kazakhstan’s national atomic company, and shared his ideas on renewable energy initiatives. EDF, a French public company, operates 67 nuclear reactors around the world, including 56 in France, nine in the United Kingdom and two in China. The company plans to build 14 additional reactors in France.

Cooperation in uranium supply with Orano SA

Tokayev and Orano SA President Nicolas Maes discussed opportunities for cooperation in the areas of uranium supply and high-tech industries.

Tokayev stressed the importance of the Kazakhstan-France partnership to ensure a reliable and secure supply of uranium to France while developing Kazakhstan’s high-tech industrial capabilities. They also explored collaboration in scientific research and rare metal mining.

The president of Orano SA, Nicolas Maes, discusses cooperation opportunities in the areas of uranium supply and high-tech industries. Photo credit: Akorda

Orano SA, the French nuclear leader, achieved a turnover of 4.8 billion euros in 2023, reflecting its strong position in the international nuclear industry.

Logistics development with CMA CGM

During the meeting with CMA CGM President Rodolphe Saadé, Tokayev highlighted Kazakhstan’s role as a critical transit hub for East-West and North-South routes, expressing interest in expanding logistics infrastructure and attracting investment to improve freight capacity across Kazakhstan.

The meeting with CMA CGM President Rodolphe Saadé highlights potential collaboration on the Middle Corridor and investments in the logistics infrastructure of the Aktau seaport. Photo credit: Akorda

They discussed potential collaboration on the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), also known as the Middle Corridor, and investments in the logistics infrastructure of the Aktau seaport. Tokayev also raised the possibility of building container ships for Caspian Sea ports to boost regional trade.

Headquartered in Almaty, CMA CGM is one of the world’s largest shipping companies, with a fleet of more than 600 container ships and a presence in 160 countries. In 2023, CMA CGM sales reached $47 billion.