The initiative comes at a time when Germany and Kazakhstan are deepening cooperation around energy security, industrial competitiveness and critical mineral supply chains. It builds on the EU-Kazakhstan strategic partnership on raw materials, batteries and renewable hydrogen, which was established in 2022 to promote secure and sustainable supply chains and deepen economic and industrial integration in these strategic sectors. During recent high-level government discussions, both countries reaffirmed the importance of economic diversification, long-term partnerships and investment-led cooperation to secure strategic resources essential for the energy transition and advanced industrial sectors.
This cooperation builds on a long-standing and trusted relationship between SEFE and Kazakhstan, including an investment in the SAFC afforestation project in the Almaty region. The joint investment platform represents a meaningful step in SEFE’s strategic transformation into a broader commodities and infrastructure partner enabling European energy and industrial security.
Dr Egbert Laege, SEFE CEO, said: “Europe’s industrial future depends on secure, diversified and sustainable supply chains, both in terms of energy and critical minerals. We play an important role in delivering reliable energy to Europe, and we are now bringing that same commitment and expertise to raw material supply chains. Drawing on our decades of experience in international resource management and Kazakhstan’s diversified mineral resource base, we aim to make a significant contribution to Europe’s industrial competitiveness and economic growth.”
Sultangali Kinzhakulov, Chairman of the Management Board of Kazakh Invest, said: “Kazakhstan is committed to developing a competitive and sustainable mining and metallurgical sector with a strong focus on deep processing within the country. By combining Kazakhstan’s resource potential with SEFE's international expertise and market access, we aim to bring forward projects that create added value, jobs and technology transfer in Kazakhstan, while strengthening reliable supply chains with our European partners. Kazakh Invest will provide full support to investors at every stage of project implementation.”