Ludo Sarens, Chairman of the Board of Directors and President of the Sarens Group, held an initial coordination meeting with the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan, Olzhas Bektenov, with the aim of drawing up a roadmap for this project.
One of the objectives of this new road layout, which is over 3 km long, will be to avoid the Nur Zholy checkpoint and facilitate a route for heavy vehicles weighing over 100 tonnes in the region.
Sarens and the Kazakh government have laid the foundations for further collaboration in the future, which will also involve greater interaction in the construction of specialised machinery in the country.
Sarens, world leader in heavy lifting, engineered transport, and crane rental services based in Wolvertem, has signed a collaboration agreement with the Government of Kazakhstan which, in a first phase, includes the construction of a new ring road near the border with China, as well as a road bridge, all the necessary infrastructure, and parking lots covering an area of more than 81.6 hectares.
This new road layout will be vital to improving the flow of goods between Kazakhstan and China, as it involves a 3.2 km stretch with a width of 12 meters, which will facilitate traffic flow and provide a route for vehicles weighing over 100 tons. This new infrastructure will have a significant impact on trade which, according to Kazakh authorities, already accounted for more than 95 billion US dollars in trade volume between China and Central Asia.
In a meeting between Ludo Sarens, chairman of the board and president of the Belgian Sarens group, and the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan, Orishas Bekternov, both parties laid the foundations for their collaboration, which will initially cover the construction of this new road infrastructure, but is expected to soon extend to greater interaction in the construction of specialized heavy machinery with a high level of localization, leveraging Sarens’ international experience gained over more than 60 years.
The construction of this new highway aligns with the Kazakh government’s initiative to boost transportation logistics, trade, and traffic in the country, in accordance with the guidelines established by the head of state. By avoiding passage through the Nur Zholy checkpoint, this section will provide a significant boost to local trade, which will see direct and indirect employment grow in the region, as well as improve road safety in the area by reducing traffic congestion and offering higher-quality infrastructure, including rest areas and parking spanning more than 81.6 hectares.
Sarens has extensive experience in project development in Kazakhstan since its establishment in Almaty in 2005. It has collaborated on various projects related to oil & gas, such as in the Tengiz Field alongside Tengizchevroil (a joint venture that includes, among others, Chevron and ExxonMobil), and in the offshore Kashagan field. Additionally, it has contributed to the development of industrial infrastructure and renewable energy projects in the country, thus becoming a key player in its economic growth.
About Sarens
Sarens is the global leader and reference in crane rental, heavy lift and engineered transportation services. With state-of-the-art equipment, value engineering, one of the world’s largest inventories of cranes, transporters and special rigging equipment, Sarens offers creative and intelligent solutions to today’s heavy lifting and engineering transport challenges.
With more than 100 entities in 65 countries operating without borders, Sarens is an ideal partner for small to large-scale projects. Sarens currently employs 5,000 highly qualified professionals who are ready to serve the needs of any client worldwide and in all market sectors.
