Kazakhstan / Turkey - Hakan Kefoğlu, export director for the Kocaeli, Turkey-based bus and coach builder, Anadolu Isuzu (Anadolu Isuzu Otomotiv Sanayi ve Ticerat) speaking at Busworld Central Asia in Almaty last month said the company was actively looking to expand bus and coach sales in the region. With over 60% of its revenue in 2019 already being generated from export sales, he said, Anadolu Isuzu intended to increase this percentage even further in the coming years; in part by taking advantage of the free trade agreements between Turkey and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), which offers it a competitive advantage compared with other European manufacturers based outside Turkey.

Kefoğlu said Anadolu Isuzu already has 65 vehicles in operation in neighbouring Tajikistan and were currently the largest provider of buses in Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan’s neighbour across the Caspian Sea. Furthermore, he said, the company’s delegation in Almaty had had several productive meetings with transport officials representing Almaty and Astana during their time in Kazakhstan as well as with representatives from cities in Azerbaijan.