Kazakhstan wants more production at home. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has called on German technology group Wilo to deepen localization by increasing the share of locally manufactured components and involving more Kazakh suppliers, DKNews.kz reports.
Tokayev discussed the next stage of Wilo’s expansion with the company’s President and CEO Oliver Hermes during his official visit to Germany on September 29.
Wilo already uses Kazakhstan as its Central Asian hub
Tokayev described Wilo as an example of successful German business localization in Kazakhstan.
The German technology group manufactures pumping systems and develops energy-efficient solutions for residential, public and industrial buildings.
The President highlighted Wilo’s investment in a production facility in the Almaty Region and its decision to use Kazakhstan as a platform for expansion into other Central Asian markets.
Hermes confirmed that Kazakhstan has become Wilo’s regional hub in Central Asia and outlined plans to expand the company’s partnership in the country.
That gives the project significance beyond the domestic market: production and services based in Kazakhstan can support Wilo’s operations across the wider region.
Kazakhstan wants more components produced locally
The next stage, according to Tokayev, should focus on deeper localization.
The President identified several areas for further development:
- increasing the share of components manufactured in Kazakhstan;
- expanding engineering capabilities;
- localizing maintenance and service operations;
- involving more domestic suppliers;
- training technical specialists;
- introducing advanced digital manufacturing practices.
This would shift the partnership further from assembling or supplying equipment towards building a broader local industrial ecosystem around the German company’s operations.
Kazakh engineers and universities could join Wilo projects
Tokayev also proposed expanding cooperation between Wilo and Kazakhstan’s engineering companies, universities and technical specialists.
Personnel training was singled out as one of the areas where deeper cooperation could produce a longer-term effect.
The same applies to maintenance. Localizing technical services would allow more of the expertise required to operate and maintain Wilo equipment to remain inside Kazakhstan rather than depend on external support.
Cooperation with universities could also connect industrial projects with engineering education and specialist training.
Digital manufacturing becomes another area for cooperation
Advanced manufacturing technologies were also discussed.
Tokayev expressed interest in bringing modern digital production practices into Wilo’s Kazakhstan operations alongside deeper industrial localization.
For Kazakhstan, this changes the emphasis of the partnership. The objective is not simply to attract a foreign manufacturer, but to increase the amount of production, engineering expertise, services and supplier activity generated inside the country.
Hermes thanked Tokayev for supporting Wilo’s projects and confirmed the company’s plans to expand its partnership in Kazakhstan.
Wilo’s official strategy already places increasing emphasis on regional production and greater proximity to customers. Wilo Group operates internationally in building services, water management and industrial applications.
The Berlin talks now put a more specific benchmark on the company’s future development in Kazakhstan: a larger share of locally produced components, more Kazakh suppliers and stronger links with domestic engineers and universities.
Earlier, we reported on Tokayev’s official visit to Germany and the investment, technology and business agenda behind the talks in Berlin and Munich. The Wilo meeting adds industrial localization and technology transfer to that agenda.
