Alstom could invest 50-100 mln euros in service centers in Kazakhstan

ALMATY. June 6 (Interfax) - Alstom intends to invest between 50 million and 100 million euros in the creation of its service centers in Kazakhstan, the Kazakh government press office said in a statement with reference to the French engineering company President for Africa, Middle East and Central Asia Andrew DeLeone.

The expansion of Alstom's business in Kazakhstan was discussed on Tuesday at a meeting between DeLeone and Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov in Astana.

The company also wants to back the new locomotive design and increase the infrastructure potential across the country in order to improve transportation safety, DeLeone was quoted by the press office as saying.

"We propose to consider the issue of full-fledged production with high localization and end-to-end operations involving Kazakh enterprises. For our part, we are ready to assist in the implementation of new investment projects," Smailov said.

Alstom is represented in Kazakhstan by over 1,000 staff and seven production sites, including two plants. The first is the Electric Locomotive Assembly Plant, which specialize in the assembly and maintenance of electric locomotives in Astana; the second is the JV KazElectroPrivod , which manufactures point machines in Almaty. Alstom is the only manufacturer of electric locomotives and point machines in Central Asia and the Caucasus and major participant in the program aimed at reviving the regional railway industry and economic development.