On December 8-10, 2008 Astana (Kazakhstan) hosted the II International Regional Rail Business Forum “1520 Strategic Partnership: Central Asia”.

 The key topic of the forum was “Business of the “1520 area” under conditions of global changes to the world economy”.

Over 400 delegates from 18 countries participated in the forum. It became an important step in strengthening business connections within the area united by the common gauge standard of 1520 mm.

In the frames of the official opening ceremony Karim Massimov, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan greeted the Forum participants. He mentioned that today and in the nearest perspective in Kazakhstan and many neighbor countries railway transport is and will remain one of the key means. 

Askar Mamin, President of JSC Kazakhstan Railways; Vadim Morozov, First Vice President of JSC Russian Railways and representatives of Central Asian national railway companies also spoke at the opening ceremony.

“Central Asian region due to its geographic position is one of the key within the “1520 area”, and development of railways in the region opens big perspectives. We intend to improve partnership with the Central Asian countries in the frames of the planned infrastructure and other business projects” – said Vadim Morozov, First Vice President of JSC Russian Railways in his opening speech. The main target of the Forum was strengthening of railway connections and development of business cooperation in the region of Central Asia as well as elaboration by the “1520 area” partners of common view on the railway perspectives under conditions of the world financial crisis.

During the work of the Forum, its panel and round table discussions the most up to date issues of transport corridors development, attraction of investments for transport car building and logistic infrastructure development were raised. Special attention was paid to reforming of the railway transport. In the frames of the new format named “Bank of Projects” for the development of “1520 area”, the largest companies of the sphere (Eurasia Logistic, Amanat Invest Group, ICT Group of Companies, Somerley, ENRC Logistics) presented their projects aiming to contribute to realization of the Central Asian transit potential and its effective integration into the Eurasian transport system.

A number of international agreements were signed on the Forum. Thus, JSC Russian Railways and JSC Kazakhstan Railways signed a complex “Plan of joint actions in major directions of cooperation” between the two companies. “Strategic development of our companies is brought to a concrete plan which prescribes holding of joint events. The Document covers all the key spheres of the Companies activities for the coming year” – mentioned Vadim Morozov, First Vice President of JSC Russian Railways during the press conference.

Reciprocal conventions on principles of cooperation were signed between: JSC Kazakhstan Railways and JSC Freight one company; between JSC Center of Transport Services (CTS) and JSC Freight one company; between “Transgarant” LLC and JSC CTS.

In the frames of the Forum closing ceremony a call-in show with Vladimir Yakunin, President of JSC Russian Railways was organized. “I regret I had no opportunity to join you, but I hope that Forum participants have pleasant impression of the work they have done and I am certain that the work in the frames of the Forum will bring good results”, - he said. Being informed about the results of the discussions that took place, the President of JSC Russian Railways also mentioned that the Forum was held on high organizational and topical level.