The entry into force this July of the Strategic Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (SPCA) between the United Kingdom (UK) and Kazakhstan raises precisely that question. From critical minerals and energy to education, technology and sustainable growth, this agreement sets the course for the next chapter of UK-Kazakhstan cooperation,” she said. Global competition for critical minerals is intensifying. While critical minerals and transport reflect the economic dimension of the partnership, education represents its long-term investment in human capital. Viewed separately, critical minerals, new transport routes and university campuses may appear to belong to different stories.