Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- Uzavtosanoat and Allur (Kazakhstan) signed a cooperation agreement to further expand production in Kazakhstan.

The signing ceremony of the Agreement in Tashkent was opened with video messages from the Deputy Prime Minister of Uzbekistan Jamshid Khodjaev and the First Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan Roman Sklyar. The ceremony was also attended by GM Senior Vice President and President of GM International Shilpan Amin, who is visiting Uzbekistan to discuss further interaction and development of strategic relations with UzAuto.

As part of the signed Agreement, the parties expressed their intention to further cooperate in organizing the production of the Chevrolet Onix using the small-scale assembly (CKD) method with an annual output of 30,000 units per year at the facilities of the Allur automobile plant. To implement the project, investments in the amount of about $50 million will be attracted, which will expand the production potential of Kazakhstan and provide both the Kazakhstan market and other potential export markets with modern and affordable cars.

According to the agreements reached, Uzavtosanoat, being the leader among automakers in the CIS, will provide the Allur plant with engineering and technical support, as well as services in the assembly and production of a Chevrolet Onix model car.

“UzAuto, under the leadership of Chairman Shavkat Umurzakov, has done an outstanding job - in cooperation with Allur, under the leadership of Chairman of the Board of Directors Andrey Lavrentyev, it has gained leadership in the Kazakhstan market in a very short time. We would also like to thank the Governments of Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, Prime Minister Abdulla Aripov and Deputy Prime Minister of Uzbekistan Jamshid Khodjaev, as well as First Deputy Prime Minister Roman Sklyar for their great support and assistance on this path to leadership of the Chevrolet brand in Kazakhstan”, - said Mr. Shilpan Amin during the event.

“This agreement on the transfer of technology and expertise for the production of vehicles using the SKD method in Kazakhstan was made possible thanks to the strong relations between the two countries and close cooperation in the field of trade and industrial cooperation,” said Shavkat Umurzakov, Chairman of the Board of Uzavtosanoat JSC. He also thanked GM for helping to turn Uzbekistan into a CIS automotive hub.

“I thank the Government of Uzbekistan, UzAuto and General Motors for the opportunity to integrate the Allur plant into the GM Automotive Strategy in the CIS countries, as well as support in the development of high-tech production of Chevrolet cars in Kazakhstan. This will contribute to cooperation and economic growth of both countries,” Andrey Lavrentyev, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Allur, emphasized.

In the long-term plan for the development of cooperation, the parties agreed on the possibility of updating and expanding the range of cars, based on the needs of the sales markets and consumer demand. Mutually beneficial cooperation in the automotive industry will give a new impetus to the economic development of the two states, will expand regional cooperation, thereby creating a solid foundation for the further development of export markets.