Kazakhstan Engineering is negotiating license agreement with Turkish MRAP manufacturer BMC to set up an assembly lines for Kirpi protected vehicles, BMC 250-10 Z Vuran APC and 380-26 P 6×6 tactical transports.

The vehicles may be re-exported abroad.

Speaking to Forbes Kazakhstan , managing director of Kazakh agricultural equipment manufacturer Kaz Kioti Bakhtiar Mamatov, said his company was currently in negotiations with state-owned defence equipment manufacturer Kazakhstan Engineering to assemble and produce vehicles made by Turkey’s BMC.

According to Mamatov, the company is looking to begin production of BMC’s EFE and 235-16 4×4 tactical transports, 380-26 P 6×6 tactical transport vehicles, the mine-resistant, ambush-protected BMC 350-16 Z Kirpi 4×4, and BMC 250-10 Z Vuran multipurpose armoured vehicle.

The initial investment is expected to be approximately USD30 million, and will create 100 jobs, Mamatov said. The plant will initially focus on local assembly before increasing local workshare and content.

The move comes as Turkey is increasingly pushing into Kazakhstan in a number of sectors, ranging from agriculture and telecommunications to pharmaceuticals and food. Both the Turkish and Kazakh governments are seeking to boost bilateral trade from USD3.3 billion in 2014 to more than USD10 billion.

The two countries already have an established defence trade, with Kazakhstan previously procuring seven Otokar Cobra armoured vehicles and Turkish firm Aselsan establishing a joint venture with Kazakhstan Engineering in 2013 to manufacture electro-optic and night vision systems for the Kazakh military.