Ukraine and Kazakhstan are in talks on launching joint production of small airliners in the Central Asian country, the Kommersant-Ukraina newspaper said on Wednesday, RIA Novosti reported.
Kazakh Deputy Foreign Minister Amangeldy Zhumabayev announced on Tuesday that a construction site had already been chosen in Almaty, Kazakhstan's former capital and largest commercial center, the paper said.
Kazakhstan needs about 100 new planes for domestic routes, while aircraft produced in cooperation with Ukraine could also be exported to neighboring countries, the head of the company that will supply engines for the planes was quoted as saying.
Currently, the two countries are in talks on the production of An-140 regional turboprops designed by Ukraine's Antonov aircraft construction bureau, the paper quoted Dmitry Kiva, the company head, as saying. The An-140 is capable of carrying up to 52 passengers.