Alstom and KazATK to jointly train personnel for the railway industry in Kazakhstan

Alstom and Kazakh Academy of Transport and Communications (KazATK) have signed a memorandum that provides for co-operation in professional training of the personnel for the railway industry, testing of Alstom products and joint elaboration of standards for future technical regulations. The document was signed in Paris at the Forum of Higher Educational Establishments of France and Kazakhstan during a visit to France by Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbaev. 

The document provides for professional training of the Alstom’s service staff at the Academy’s training base, Alstom internships for employees and students of the KazATK and the Academy’s involvement in testing of the company’s products, intended for the Kazakh market for their conformity to traffic safety regulations. The partners also intend to co-operate in elaboration of standards in the context of the future Technical Regulations to be applied as part of the Customs Union.

“We have come to Kazakhstan not only as an investor but also as a world acknowledged technology leader, to transfer our modern technologies and develop local expertise. Another reason why co-operation with KazATK is important to us is that the Academy as the leading higher education establishment in Kazakhstan focused on training of transport specialists, will help us set up a high-quality talent pool for the future. This cooperation will definitely be mutually beneficial: we are ready to arrange internships and further employment of the KazATK students already familiar with our technologies and send our specialists to attend postgraduate courses at the Academy”, said Martin Vaujour, Senior Vice-President of Alstom Transport in Russia and CIS.  

Alstom actively expanded its presence in Kazakhstan in 2010 when the first stone of EKZ – a joint manufacturing venture between Alstom, KTZ and TMH – was laid in Astana. The plant, inaugurated in 2012 in the presence of the Kazakh president Nursultan Nazarbayev, is currently executing an order for 200 freight and 95 passenger electric locomotives for KTZ by 2020. The plant also intends to export its products: last year, it received an order for 50 electric locomotives for Azerbaijani Railways. Alstom has also localised the manufacture of its point machines in Almaty: since 2013, they have been manufactured by a joint venture owned 50/50 by Alstom and Kamkor – KEP JV. To date, some 2,000 new P80 machines have been delivered to the customer KTZ.

About Alstom
As a promoter of sustainable mobility, Alstom develops and markets systems, equipment and services for the railway sector. Alstom manages the widest range of solutions in the market – from high-speed trains to metros and tramways – and associated maintenance, modernisation, infrastructure and signalling solutions. Alstom is a world leader in integrated railway systems. It recorded sales of €6.2 billion and booked €10 billion of orders in the 2014/15 fiscal year. Headquartered in France, Alstom is present in over 60 countries and employs 32,000 people today.

Alstom is present in Central Asia as a manufacturer of passenger and freight e-locos (Astana) and point machines (Almaty).