Kazakhstan, France to conduct joint comprehensive study of Ile-Balkhash basin
Minister of Water Recourses and Irrigation Nurzhan Nurzhigitov has met Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of France to Kazakhstan Sylvain Guiaugue to discuss various aspects of the bilateral cooperation, Kazinform News Agency reports.
The Kazakh ministry prepares to sign a memorandum and a trilateral cooperation agreement with the French Development Agency (AFD) and the French Bureau of Geological and Mining Research (BRGM) to conduct a comprehensive research of the Ile-Balkhash basin.
The sides also plan to cooperate in the issue of studying, monitoring, exploration and groundwater intake.The Kazakh ministry is also exploring ways of cooperation with the International Office for Water.
In turn, Sylvain Guiaugue said that French companies intend to join the projects of construction and reconstruction of water facilities in Kazakhstan. According to him, French companies specializing in leakage detection and water management optimization are also keen on collaborating with Kazakhstan.
“The signing of the memorandum and the agreement will become an important step in our cooperation. We target on a long-term and fruitful work with our French colleagues,” Nurzhan Nurzhigitov says.