Kazakhstan and Rwanda Deepen Ties in Mining, Technology, and Trade

Kazakhstan is partnering with Rwanda in the extraction and processing of beryllium, a strategic metal, while also expanding cooperation in agriculture, logistics, and transport corridors, Orda.kz reports.

President Qasym-Jomart Toqayev and President Paul Kagame held bilateral talks at Aqorda, agreeing to strengthen ties in energy, logistics, education, and space.

Toqayev referred to Rwanda as one of Kazakhstan’s reliable partners on the African continent.

Today’s meeting was very meaningful. Having discussed ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation, we reached specific agreements, including on the development of political dialogue,
 Toqayev stated.

Special focus was given to logistics, food security, and digital transformation.

We discussed the possibilities of creating international corridors and the situation with food security. We considered ways of transporting Kazakhstan's agricultural products to the African continent,
Toqayev added.

The sides also reached agreements on digitalization, cybersecurity, and space cooperation, including joint work in artificial intelligence research.

One of the key agreements was signed between Samruq-Qazyna JSC and the Rwanda Mines, Petroleum and Gas Board. According to President Kagame, the agreement is part of a broader effort to enhance collaboration in trade, technology, and agriculture.

Our countries are keen to share experiences, including in the areas of trade, technology and agriculture. Rwanda can benefit greatly from Kazakh innovations, especially in energy, mining and mineral processing,
 Kagame noted.

According to Samruq-Qazyna Chairman Nurlan Zhakupov, the agreement includes the supply of beryllium concentrate and is aimed at the development and operation of Rwanda’s mineral resource sector.

Rwanda is a country located in the eastern part of the African continent. It is relatively small, but it has significant beryllium resources,
 Zhakupov stated.

KazAtomProm’s subsidiary, the Ulba Metallurgical Plant (UMZ), may become involved in importing beryllium from Rwanda to Kazakhstan.

Our subsidiary KazAtomProm, which owns the Ulba Metallurgical Plant, intends to consider deliveries of beryllium from Rwanda to Kazakhstan. UMZ has a unique technology for the production of metallic beryllium with specified characteristics. Annually, the plant can process about 1,500 tons of concentrate containing eight percent beryllium oxide. 

Beryllium is widely used in aerospace and electronics, including in rocket production, computer boards, precision mirrors, and advanced ceramics.

The Presidents also discussed climate change, environmental protection, and collaboration between the Astana and Kigali international financial centers.

In total, nine interdepartmental memorandums and one commercial agreement were signed, covering cooperation in agriculture, tourism, education, digital technology, trade, and investment.

We have confirmed our interest in developing bilateral relations and expanding cooperation in various areas. The results of today’s talks are a clear confirmation of this. Now we must qualitatively implement these agreements,
 Toqayev concluded.

In Astana, Kagame’s visit was regarded as a significant diplomatic event, despite ongoing international criticism of his long rule. He has been in power for nearly 25 years, consistently winning elections with 95–99% of the vote.

Original Author: Zhadra Zhulmukhametova