The Škoda Group has signed a new strategic cooperation agreement for the supply of ten modern electric trains to Uzbekistan.
Signed at the Presidential Palace; this agreement will include the delivery of units, creation of a joint venture for localisation, service and the establishment of the Škoda Academy.
The agreement was signed at the Presidential Palace in the presence of the President and Prime Minister of Uzbekistan Abdulla Aripov and the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic Andrej Babiš
© Škoda Group
Total value of the planned project is expected to exceed three billion CZK (120 million EUR), with the new trains set to represent a significant step towards the expansion of the Škoda Group into the Central Asian region.
The delivery will include ten modern new-generation electric trains from the Škoda Group designed for use on 1520mm gauge track – based on the platform of electric trains currently operating throughout Latvia and Estonia.
Petr Novotný, CEO of the Škoda Group, said:
This project is the result of long-term cooperation between the teams of the Uzbek and Czech governments, Uzbek Railways and the Škoda Group.
Uzbekistan is a dynamically developing country with ambitious plans for the modernisation of its transport infrastructure, and we are ready to share the technological know-how of our products within the framework of a long-term partnership and offer a solution that meets current requirements for sustainable and efficient mobility.
The project was directly supported by the Czech government, European Commission, European Parliament, European Investment Bank, and EGAP.
With a population of more than 70 million; Uzbekistan and the wider Central Asia region represent a significant growth market in transport infrastructure. The project itself also fits into the broader context of the wider development of the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor, which connects Europe and Asia and is a key strategic initiative in the field of international transport.