"Building Bridges from Canada to Kazakhstan" with Tim Gitzel

Icebreakers: A conversation about Canadian and Eurasian business

In today's episode, we're excited to chat with Tim Gitzel, the President and CEO of Cameco Corporation, the world's largest uranium producer. With over 25 years of senior management and legal experience in Canadian and international uranium mining, Mr. Gitzel has a wealth of knowledge and expertise to share with our listeners.

As the Honorary Council of Kazakhstan to Saskatchewan and a Board member of various prestigious organizations including the World Nuclear Association and the Kazakhstan - Canada Business Council, Mr. Gitzel provides valuable insights on the transformation of Kazakhstan's mining industry and what makes the country an attractive destination for foreign investors.

Related links to this episode:

Cameco

Kazakhstan Canada Business Council (KCBC)

Kazatomprom

Timeline:

00:00 Intro

00:36 - Introducing Tim Gitzel

1:56 Growing up in communities of Northern Saskatchewan

2:59 Hockey passion and a call that never comes

4:30 Breaking into the uranium industry

7:06 Uranium 2011: from ‘’sky-high” to “now what?”

10:44 Cameco, as the largest industrial employer of Indigenous people

13:14 Expanding to Kazakhstan market

16:07 Modernization of Kazakhstan’s mining sector

18:00 Adapting to JORC code principles

19:03 Cameco-Kazatomprom joint venture

21:46 Honorary Consul of Kazakhstan in Saskatchewan

24:33 Meeting with the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan

27:49 Political leadership of the government of Kazakhstan

30:22 Mr. Gitzel’s advice on entering the Kazakhstan market

33:35 Kazakhstan-Canada Business Council (KCBC)

38:11 What made Tim Gitzel a leader?

40:09 What does the future hold for Tim Gitzel?

43:34 Outro

Icebreakers is produced by CECC, an independent non-profit organization that promotes bilateral trade and investment between Canada and Eurasia. www.canadaeurasia.com