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Alstom signs technical support deal with Azerbaijan Railways

French rail transportation company Alstom has become the technical maintenance supplier of Azerbaijan Railways, the country’s national rail transport operator, Azernews has reported.

According to an agreement signed by Azerbaijan Railways chairman Javid Gurbanov and Alstom regional director Elshan Zeynalov, the French company will provide technical support for locomotives supplied to Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijani finance minister Samir Sharifov said that French companies could expand their presence and strengthen their competitiveness in the regional market if they use their ties to Azerbaijan, adding that French companies will start their business activities in the Free Economic Zone of Alat in 2020.

France’s economy and finance minister Bruno Le Maire pointed out that the two countries had great potential for expanding bilateral economic cooperation, noting that France is now eyeing the possibility of joint projects in the energy and defense sectors.

Alstom started supplying Azerbaijan with its locomotives in 2014. Last year, Azerbaijan Railways received the first locomotive produced by the French company.