General News

LGP, represented by Senior Legal Adviser Ainur Zhunusova, participated in the Kazakh-German Economic Forum, which was held as part of a state visit by German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier. The event took place in Astana on 20 June 2023.

During the state visit of the German President to Kazakhstan, the following documents were signed:

• a Memorandum on Cooperation between the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Federal Foreign Office of the Federal Republic of Germany; 
• a Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation between the Ministry of National Economy of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection of the Federal Republic of Germany in the field of qualification of entrepreneurs from Kazakhstan; 
• a Memorandum of Understanding between the National Geological Survey and the Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR). 
• an Agreement on the implementation of the project on the construction of a plant for the production of plasterboard and dry construction mixes between the Akimat of Zhambyl Oblast and Knauf Gips Taraz LLP; 
• an Agreement on the establishment of the Kazakh-German Institute for Sustainable Engineering; 
• a Memorandum of understanding between JSC National Company Kazakhstan Temir Zholy and Rhenus SE & Co. KG"; 
• an Agreement on the development of a partnership in the field of passenger transport and transport and logistics between "DB Engineering & Consulting GmbH" and JSC "National Company "Kazakhstan Temir Zholy";
• an Agreement on localisation of production of medium-voltage switchgear for the power industry of the Republic of Kazakhstan using Siemens technology; 
• an Agreements on joint activities for geological exploration of solid minerals and their processing. 

The strategic partnership was launched with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the EU and Kazakhstan on a strategic partnership in the fields of raw materials, batteries and renewable hydrogen at COP-27 in Egypt on 7 November 2022 by the President of the European Commission and the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan.

This was the third strategic partnership signed by the Commission following the EU Action Plan on Critical Raw Materials. The MoU ensures the development of a secure and sustainable supply of raw and refined materials. It also aims to develop value chains for renewable hydrogen and batteries to accelerate the green and digital transformation of both parties' economies.

The partnership, based on the existing Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (EPCA), focuses on three areas of cooperation:

1. closer economic and industrial integration in strategic value chains for raw materials, batteries and renewable hydrogen by.

- Identifying joint projects along the entire relevant value chain, including processing and mobilising private investment.

- Harmonisation of high environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards.

- Improving upstream and downstream processes and technologies by introducing new technologies and sustainable practices.

2. improving the sustainability of supply chains for raw materials, batteries and renewable hydrogen, including through

- increasing transparency and information on partnership-related investments, operations and exports.

3. closer bilateral cooperation on capacity building, skills, research and innovation on the following topics

- Decarbonisation of the critical commodity value chain, including through the use of renewable energy sources and digitalisation

- Greening and sustainability of mining processes

- Management of industrial mineral waste and recovery of critical raw materials