Turkey Due to Announce Tender for Supply of 106 Trains

A record tender for a total of 106 train units will soon be announced by Turkish State Railways. The tender, worth 6 billion Turkish Liras, will include the requirement to establish a train factory in Turkey and a 51% minimum local purchasing condition, according to Turkish State Railways, Director Süleyman Karaman.

A number of international firms are believed to be interested , since approval for the tender was received by the development Ministry and signoff is imminent from the Council of Ministers, including German firm Siemens and a number of Italian firms.

Karaman indicated that the tender would be announced in 2 or 3 months.

Turkey is planning significant developments in rail transportation infrastructure under the new development plan covering the next 5 years. At least 2500 km of high speed rail line is planned to link 14 different cities. The framework was announced last month by transport Minister Binaldi Yildrim.

The news comes as Turkey’s Consul General in Saudi Arabia announced that investors from GCC countries would be exempted from paying taxes in Turkey. This announcement was welcomed by members of the Industrial Committee at the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry.