Screen Reader06/30/2025
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On June 25, Zhandos Shaikhi, Deputy Chairman of the Management Board of ‘Baiterek’ National Managing Holding, held a meeting with the leadership of Wabtec Corporation, one of the global leaders in railway technologies and digital solutions. The delegation included Wabtec President and CEO Rafael Santana, Senior Vice Presidents Gökhan Bayhan and Kanat Alpysbayev, as well as Gayni Duisenova, General Director of the company’s representative office in Kazakhstan.
The main topic of the talks was the discussion of further cooperation areas in the context of Wabtec’s operations in Kazakhstan. Particular attention was paid to opportunities for localizing production, digitalizing the railway sector, introducing environmentally friendly technologies, and training engineering personnel.
A separate topic was the initiative to use the tools of the Industrial Development Fund JSC (part of the Holding’s group of companies) to provide leasing financing for fleet renewal. Discussions included both the supply of new equipment and the secondary leasing of locomotives.
The parties also touched upon the promotion of Kazakhstani products to export markets. In particular, they discussed the use of tools provided by Export Credit Agency of Kazakhstan JSC to expand the geography of locomotive and railway equipment exports to neighboring countries.
The Industrial Development Fund JSC is already providing systemic support to the domestic railway sector. Since its inception, the Fund has financed the renewal of over 16,000 freight cars and more than 550 passenger cars, and facilitated the export of Kazakhstani railcars to the Republic of Azerbaijan. Additionally, with the Fund’s support, a railway cluster has been established in Pavlodar Region, including the production of wheels, castings, and track superstructure components.
Back in 2015, the Export Credit Agency of Kazakhstan JSC (formerly KazExportGarant) carried out the country’s first international-level export deal — the delivery of 10 locomotives manufactured by Locomotive Kurastyru Zauyty JSC to Azerbaijan. Currently, negotiations are underway between LKZ and Azerbaijan Railways CJSC on further exports of mainline diesel locomotives.
“Wabtec Corporation is a strategic partner that has made a significant contribution to the development of the country’s railway industry. ‘Baiterek’ Holding is open to new formats of cooperation aimed at supporting Kazakhstan’s industrial potential and introducing advanced international solutions,” emphasized Zhandos Shaikhi.
Wabtec Corporation has been operating in Kazakhstan since 1996. Over this period, more than 230 million US dollars have been invested in developing production capacities, localizing technologies, and training Kazakhstani specialists.
Following the meeting, the parties agreed to continue working consultations and to develop specific initiatives within the framework of the joint industrial and technological cooperation agenda.
