Kazatomprom, JBIC sign strategic partnership memorandum
ASTANA. May 2 (Interfax) - Kazakhstan's national atomic company Kazatomprom and the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership aimed at a period of five years, Interfax-Kazakhstan reports.
The document was signed as part of the visit of the Japanese Minister of the Economy, Trade and Industry Yukio Edano to Astana.
"This is a framework agreement that covers our future long-term cooperation and includes not only loans from JBIC, but also technical assistance from Japan," Deputy Director of Kazatomprom Aidar Arifkhanov told journalists following the signing of the memorandum in Astana on Tuesday.
According to Arifkhanov, JBIC may also finance two joint projects in the sphere of rare earth metals between Kazakhstan and Japan.
"We have two joint projects in the sphere of rare earth metals with Toshiba and Sumitomo. These projects will require a lot of investment and we may seek loans from Japanese banks, but this is subject to future negotiations," he said.
Also during the visit the Kazakh National Nuclear Center signed a Memorandum of Cooperation with the Toshiba Corporation on nuclear waste management.