OREANDA-NEWS. January 24, 2014. Prime Minister Serik Akhmetov has taken part in the final annual meeting of JSC "National Company "Kazakhstan Temir Zholy" ("KTZ").

During the meeting, "KTZ" CEO A. Mamin summarized the activities of the national company in 2013 and told about the promising directions of its development.

As noted by Mamin, "basic production and financial indicators in 2013 were fulfilled."

"Cargo turnover made 100.1 % and passenger turnover exceeded the plan by 0.3%, net income is expected at 117 billion tenge, which exceeds the planned amount by 3.2%," he said.

According to Mamin, "KTZ" focused its main efforts in 2013 on the implementation of major infrastructure projects, renewal of rolling stock, automation of industrial process control systems, transport engineering projects.

Speaking about the prospects of development of passenger traffic, Askar Mamin announced plans to open this year five high-speed trains Astana - Kyzylorda, Almaty - Aktobe, Astana - Ust-Kamenogorsk, Almaty - Ust-Kamenogorsk and Almaty -Tashkent.

The company is also planning to launch a project to create a network of logistic centers, which will provide complete coverage of the domestic demand for logistics services and help enter the markets of neighboring countries. Along with this, in 2014, it is scheduled to put into service new railway lines Zhezkazgan - Beineu and Arkalyk - Shubarkol, commission a rail and structural steel plant in Aktobe and a plant for the production of diesel engines GEVO in Astana, to complete work on the expansion of the seaport of Aktau.

Concluding the meeting, the Prime Minister noticed good production and financial performance of the national company, but drew attention to the need to address several important issues, one of which is the company's tariff policy.

He instructed "to firmly defend national interests in the formation of tariffs with neighboring countries to obtain the most favorable conditions for the carriage of goods of domestic enterprises."

At the same time growth in tariffs in the domestic market should not curb the growth of all sectors of the economy of Kazakhstan, Serik Akhmetov emphasized.

Akhmetov emphasized the need to set up a large logistics transnational company able to provide all transport services.

The Prime Minister instructed to accelerate the formation of a national network of logistic centers and complete the construction of the terminal infrastructure.

Another theme discussed was the passenger service quality in long-distance trains and commuter trains.

The Head of Government instructed the heads of departments of the national company "to travel regularly and verify compliance with health standards and quality of service."

He instructed to "continue purposefully to develop the rail industry and transport and logistics system and increase labor productivity."

"It is necessary to pay special attention to the effective implementation of the tasks set by the President in his address to the nation," Akhmetov concluded.