Olzhas Bektenov Met with Zijin Mining Chairman to Discuss Investment Cooperation

Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan Olzhas Bektenov held a meeting with Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Chinese company Zijin Mining Group Chen Jinghe to discuss investment cooperation.

The discussion focused on the implementation of mining and metallurgical projects in line with the objectives set by the Head of State in his Address to the Nation “Kazakhstan in the Era of Artificial Intelligence: Current Challenges and Their Solutions through Digital Transformation.”

Kazakhstan ranks 6th in the world for gold production and 13th for gold reserves. Currently, the mining and metallurgical sector accounts for 8% of the country’s GDP, with an annual metallurgical output exceeding 14 trillion tenge. The sector employs about 224,000 people. Last year, $3 billion in investments were attracted to the industry.

During the meeting, the parties discussed joint measures for the implementation of a major investment project in the mining and metallurgical sector in the Akmola region.

They also noted the prospects for mutually beneficial cooperation in geological exploration and the development of new deposits.

Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov emphasized that the Government of Kazakhstan would provide the necessary support for the implementation of investment projects with high added value. The partnership should contribute to increasing mineral production volumes, creating permanent jobs, and introducing advanced, environmentally sustainable production technologies.

For his part, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Zijin Mining Group Chen Jinghe commended Kazakhstan’s efforts to create favorable conditions for investment and expressed interest in strengthening cooperation with the country.

For reference: Zijin Mining Group is one of the world’s largest metallurgical companies, implementing 30 projects across 15 countries. The mining conglomerate ranks 778th on the Forbes Global 2000 list and 77th on the Fortune China 500. The company’s shares are listed on the Hong Kong and Shanghai stock exchanges.