Upbeat Busworld Central Asia 2019
Busworld Central Asia 2019 made a grand debut with the stakeholders of the bus and coach industry in the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Busworld Central Asia 2019 made a grand debut with the stakeholders of the bus and coach industry in the Republic of Kazakhstan
Busworld International forayed into Almaty, in the Republic of Kazakhstan with the inaugural edition of Busworld Central Asia 2019. Held from June 25-27, 2019, at the Atakent Expo, the grand debut of the bus and coach fair attracted potential bus and coach manufacturers, bodybuilders, ancillaries, and specialist service providers among other stakeholders. Known to be in the transition period to advanced bus and coach development, Central Asia was presented as a unique market to all the stakeholders that made it to the inaugural edition of the expo. The stakeholders had the opportunity to observe as well as suggest measures like the need to prioritise mass transport solutions to stay efficient and effective. Many Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) like Kamaz Trade, Anadolu Isuzu Otomotiv, Astana Motor, Dafo Vehicle Fire Protection, JV MAN Auto and Samauto participated. They presented 24 vehicles. Tier suppliers like Voith Turbo Limited also made it a point to participate.
Highlighting Central Asia’s capabilities in assembly and distribution, the inaugural edition of Busworld Central Asia 2019 saw representation from Turkey, China, Russia, Tajikistan, Belarus, and Uzbekistan among others. Expressed Didier Ramoundt, President, Busworld International, “We have always focussed on a variety of important factors to give the best in buses and coaches, and in what would amount to a high level of safety. The Almaty event is no different in terms of what it presents.” Mentioning that Central Asia is an interesting place, Ramoundt averred, “Shortly, this market will witness significant changes.” Attracting public and private entities, which should provide some idea about the potential the market holds, the inaugural edition of Busworld Central Asia 2019 was held against the backdrop of the Government of Kazakhstan investing heavily in upgrading the country’s transport and logistics infrastructure.
Drawing attention to the ‘2050 strategy blueprint’, Baurzhan Baibek, Mayor of Almaty, expressed in his inaugural speech at the show that a positive outcome is resulting from the implementation of reforms in the transport system. Around 122 kilometres of dedicated lanes have been created for buses across 22 streets in Almaty, informed Baibek. He mentioned that even during peak times, travel by public transport ensures a three times faster journey as compared to the use of a private vehicle. “The new reforms have enabled us to upgrade 80 per cent of the fleet, and by the end of the year, we will reach 100 per cent,” he added. Stating that they are the first in the region to introduce a new system of passenger traffic, which allows them to increase the number of citizens using public transport by 40 per cent, Baibek averred, “The up-gradation of fleets will continue with the aim of providing efficient public transport. Doing so will also help the region to scale up the international comparison charts.”
With an additional 144 kilometres of the dedicated bus line roads said to be under development, the inaugural edition of Busworld Central Asia 2019 saw the organisation of Busworld Academy alongside the exhibition. It is a worldwide knowledge platform of Busworld and witnessed the participation of around 38 speakers from all over the world. If local market issues were delved upon, making the participants abreast of the local bus and coach industry, the speakers, through their addresses, highlighted ways to attain the desired level of operating-ability and efficiency. Stated Jan Deman, Director of the Busworld Academy, “We started with a market analysis of the buses and coaches in Kazakhstan. We learned that we are looking at a market that is growing and needs attention. We found out that the Kazakhstan market is amid fleet renewal.” Pointing at the need to immediately replace 10 per cent of the existing bus fleet shortly, Deman said, “Over 50 per
cent of the buses in Kazakhstan are over 15 years old.”
The fleet renewal exercise having commenced in 2016, Kazakhstan has 13 private entities that operate the public transport system. As the fleet renewal exercise gathers pace, the focus is increasingly on deploying CNG buses. Some 800 units have been transferred to CNG, and more are said to be on their way. The conversion of buses to CNG proved to be an important topic of discussion at the Busworld Academy as well. Zero-emission buses for both city and long-distance coaches (like tourist application) to lower the emission were talked about. The discussion at the Busworld Academy also touched upon the 2017 policy review of the development of public transport sector in Kazakhstan, which builds on the preceding work of ‘Sustainable Urban Transport Strategy 2013-23’ for Almaty.
Receiving strong support from local authorities (including the Ministry of Industry and Infrastructural Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Mayor of Almaty), the inaugural edition of Busworld Central Asia was successful. Seeking the association of United Nations Center for Regional Development (UNCRD), Union of Auto Transport of Kazakhstan (KAO), Atamekeh and Union Internationale des Transports Publics (UITP), the exhibition also highlighted how landlocked countries are upgrading their public transport systems, and are driving their public transport ambitions. Kazakhstan is claimed to be among the world’s largest Land-locked Countries (LLDCs). It is thus challenged by the lack of access to the sea, which requires a trade to be conducted through neighbouring countries. If this adds to the cost, on the positive side, the country is looked upon as the one, which is at the forefront of surface transport initiatives.
In 2014, the United Nations called for the assistance of LLDcs in the ‘Almaty Programme of Action’. It was designed to address the special needs like the establishment of a new global framework for developing efficient transit transport systems in landlocked and transit developing countries, taking into account the interests of both land-locked and transit developing countries. It is what makes the country’s bus and coach industry stakeholders upbeat about the future of mass public transportation.