OREANDA-NEWS. On July 18, 2008 Kazakhstan’s Transport Minister Serik Akhmetov reported at his ministry’s sitting today that Kazakhstan had signed memoranda on strategic partnership with France and Japan, including in the railways realm. Besides, a memorandum was signed between the Kazakh Samruk Holding Company [for Management of State Assets] and Alstom Group that prioritizes development of high-speed service in Kazakhstan, reported the Official website http://en.government.kz.

Canada-based Bombardier has submitted a package of proposals to launch production of both cargo and passenger rail vehicles. “The company’s head is coming to Kazakhstan after July 20 to sign a number of significant documents in the realms of railway transport and civil aviation”, the Minister informed.

Ms. Saltanat Rakhimbekova, Head of the Ministry’s Department for Strategic Planning, reported that plans are there to boost transit cargo traffic by 33% within the following three years, increasing transit-related revenues by 30%.

According to Ms. Saltanat Rakhimbekova, KZT 1 trillion 306 billion is to be allocated out of the central state budget within 2009-2011 to develop the national transport sector, including KZT 371 billion in 2009.

“Given the Kazakhstan’s presidency in the OSCE in 2010, the Kazakh Government has elaborated a special “Path to Europe” Program… In terms of transport the Program seeks to expand and strengthen transport links between Kazakhstan and Europe so as to ensure free movement of passengers and cargoes based on unified transport infrastructure and procedures”, briefed Minister Akhmetov.

Besides, the Minister informed that Bombardier and Embraer are considering setting up of Kazakhstan-based service centers for their aircrafts.

“In the current year we have had talks with Bombardier and Embraer to acquire new regional aircrafts and launch service centers in Kazakhstan”, S. Akhmetov said.

The Minister reminded that a number of agreements had been reached with foreign companies, notably an agreement between the Ust-Kamenogorsk titanium and magnesium integrated producer and Airbus of France to produce certain spare parts in East Kazakhstan for Airbus aircrafts. Besides, given that Air Astana national airlines operate multiple Airbus 321/320/319, launch of a service center in Astana is now being discussed with Airbus. Specific talks will be held in August 2008.

Almaty-based Sky Service Airlines have launched a maintenance center to service Eurocopter and Augusta Westland helicopters. Works are under way to launch batch production of light Yakovlev-58 aircrafts in the vicinities of Almaty. Kazakhstan-based Yak-Alacon Company plans to launch production as early as by the end of 2009, S. Akhmetov said.