Thirty years after Mitterrand, Macron wants to strengthen France’s ties with Uzbekistan

Emmanuel Macron arrived in Uzbekistan on Wednesday evening from Kazakhstan. He is the first French president to visit the country since Francois Mitterrand in 1994. This former Soviet republic, a former home to Russia, is increasingly in demand from China, Turkey and Europe. Uzbekistan, Central Asia’s most populous country with 35 million people, has been banking on economic openness since 2016 to attract foreign investors and on diversifying its partners to establish its independence.

However, in addition to economic openness, the two republics remain authoritarian regimes where the suppression of demonstrations is often brutal, despite a stated desire for political liberalization. But the Elysee Palace, for its part, prefers to emphasize the “dynamics of reform” in these countries.

In this context, France hopes to double its still modest bilateral trade every year. French exports to Uzbekistan in 2022 amounted to 240 million euros. Two French groups, Veolia and Suez, are already well established, operating district heating and water supply systems respectively in the capital Tashkent. French uranium specialist Orano, already active in neighboring Kazakhstan, also intends to develop its mining activities in Uzbekistan.

Securing uranium supplies

In addition, the export of uranium and routes for its supply through Uzbekistan should be on the agenda. According to IAEA safety regulations, uranium must be transported by land. That is, either through the territory of Russia or through Azerbaijan. However, France is not currently on good terms with either country.

In Kazakhstan on Wednesday, Emmanuel Macron called for the “acceleration” of the strategic partnership with Kazakhstan and praised the rejection of any “vassalization” of the country, especially towards Russia, despite the “pressure” it has endured. In cooperation with TotalEnergies, contracts have been signed relating to strategic minerals, the production of vaccines against foot-and-mouth disease and the development of a large wind farm.

During this visit of Emmanuel Macron, as in Kazakhstan, where agreements were signed to promote the teaching of the French language, the President of the Republic will open a branch of the French Alliance in Samarkand. As François Mitterrand did in 1994, the head of state, accompanied by his host, is also due to visit several sites in this legendary city, where military leader Tamerlane built luxurious buildings in the 14th century. In particular, he will discover an impressive building made of ocher brick, topped by a turquoise ceramic dome, which houses the tomb of Tamerlane, the architect of the city’s glorious past.