Seraing – Herstal – Visé, 16 September 2026 – As part of his working visit to Wallonia, Kazakhstan Ambassador to Belgium Roman Vassilenko held meetings with the management of leading industrial companies FN Browning Group and John Cockerill, as well as with the authorities of the cities of Herstal and Visé.
In Seraing, Ambassador Vassilenko held talks with Jean-Luc Maurange, CEO of John Cockerill. During the meeting, he was introduced to the company’s history spanning more than a century and its technological solutions. The discussions covered prospects for cooperation in energy and infrastructure, renewable energy, green hydrogen, industrial decarbonisation, metallurgy and advanced industrial technologies. The Kazakh side expressed interest in expanding John Cockerill’s presence in Kazakhstan across various areas of its activities.
The successful cooperation between John Cockerill and Qarmet on the construction of a new hot-dip galvanising and polymer-coating complex was highlighted, along with the potential for the Belgian company’s participation in Kazakhstan’s renewable energy, hydrogen and conventional energy projects. In 2025, renewables accounted for around 7% of Kazakhstan’s electricity generation, with a strategic target of 15% by 2030.
In Herstal, Ambassador Vassilenko met with Mathieu Riquevert, Director for Sustainability and Government Affairs at FN Browning Group, and Mayor Frédéric Daerden. During the meeting, the Ambassador was introduced to the company’s history and its technological solutions.
In Visé, the Ambassador met with Acting Mayor Francis Thönissen. The parties discussed the development of direct municipal ties, cultural and sports exchanges, as well as the historical links between the Visé–Liège region and Kazakh cycling. The Kazakh side proposed considering the establishment of sister-city relations between Visé and cities in Kazakhstan, taking into account their industrial character and the potential for cooperation in urban transformation, industrial heritage, education, culture and sports.
The parties also discussed the possibility of organising a cycling event in 2027 to mark the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Kazakhstan and Belgium. Visé holds a special place in cycling history: in 2012, the city served as the starting point of the Visé–Tournai stage of the Tour de France, while the Liège–Visé region has for many years been associated with the training of Kazakh professional cyclists.
Following the visit, the parties confirmed their interest in continuing practical dialogue with a focus on concrete industrial, energy, municipal and humanitarian projects.
Reference: Wallonia is one of Belgium’s three regions, comprising five provinces and a population of around 3.71 million. In 2024, the region’s GDP amounted to approximately EUR 144 billion, or around 23% of Belgium’s GDP; according to forecasts, it could reach EUR 155 billion in 2026. Wallonia has strong specialisations in industry, metallurgy, mechanical engineering, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, energy and logistics. The Province of Liège, which includes Herstal, Seraing and Visé, is one of the region’s key industrial and logistics centres, with major capabilities in metallurgy, engineering, defence, energy and advanced technologies, including John Cockerill and FN Browning Group.
