Astana, 23 October. French companies intend to invest another €1.5bn in Kazakhstan over the next three years, French Ambassador Sylvain Guiaugué said at the presentation of the study "French Business in Kazakhstan: a Long-Term Contribution" in Astana; among the areas he named wind power, hydropower, urban water and heating networks and tourism.
"We know there is an intention to invest another 1.5 billion euros in Kazakhstan over the next three years, as I understand it," the ambassador said. The French side is now in talks with companies interested in building wind farms in Kazakhstan, and in hydropower the modernisation of existing facilities and construction of new ones are being considered. POMA, which won a contract to supply cable cars for the Almaty mountain cluster, is ready to make some of the equipment in Almaty or the region, said Ludovic Léa, head of the embassy's economic service.
France is among Kazakhstan's five largest foreign investors: accumulated investment, according to Economy Ministry data cited by the ambassador, is about €20bn, and the companies in the study invested about €2.5bn over ten years. Trade between the two countries exceeded €5bn in 2025. Of the companies surveyed, 42% have their own production in Kazakhstan, more than 40% export from here, 38% see the country as their main hub in Central Asia and 25% coordinate work in the Caucasus from here. Over the next three years the companies intend to create more than a thousand jobs.
What it means: French business does not just trade with Kazakhstan but uses it as a production base for the region and is ready to add €1.5bn. This is an intention, not signed contracts: the ambassador himself added "as I understand it".
Who benefits: Energy and utilities, where French money may go, local suppliers if production is localised, and those who get the new jobs. French companies gain access to the markets of Central Asia and the Caucasus.
Background: Among long-standing French participants in Kazakhstan's economy, the ambassador named the uranium joint venture Katco and TotalEnergies, which has been part of the NCOC consortium developing Kashagan for more than 30 years.
List of sources used: BES.media
Artificial intelligence was used in preparing this material.
