A media meeting was held on the Burabay Express electric train in an unusual format: journalists were able to talk directly with Ilya Meshcheryakov, managing director for new projects at Kazakstan Temir Zholy JSC, according to Rail-news.kz.

The topics of discussion included the strategic development of the company's procurement activities, import substitution, local content, and the introduction of modern technologies, including artificial intelligence. The format of the trip was not chosen by chance: the railway connecting the country's regions became a symbolic backdrop for a conversation about the future of the national company and the economy of Kazakhstan.

Today, KTZ JSC is building a procurement system based on the principles of openness, efficiency, and long-term partnership. In 2025, the company signed 1,402 contracts with domestic manufacturers, and its total portfolio of long-term contracts includes 185 agreements worth 2.8 trillion tenge. In addition, 17 off-take agreements worth 87.6 billion tenge were signed for the supply of key railway infrastructure components, such as wheel sets and turnouts, as well as modern polymer insulators.

Ilya Meshcheryakov, Managing Director for New Projects at JSC NC Kazakhstan Temir Zholy, emphasized that the company's procurement activities go far beyond a simple procedure for providing goods and services.

“We view procurement as a strategic mechanism for the development of Kazakhstan's economy. Support for domestic producers, the introduction of artificial intelligence, and transparent rules of the game are what make KTZ a modern and responsible partner for business and society,” he said.

The company offers attractive terms for domestic suppliers. These include an advance payment of at least 30%, simplified tender procedures, accelerated payment within five working days, and the possibility of delivering products within 60 working days. This approach encourages entrepreneurs to develop production within the country, creates new jobs, and strengthens the economic stability of the regions. Over the past five years, KTZ has signed off-take contracts worth more than 250 billion tenge, which has already led to the launch of new production facilities in Kazakhstan.

Special attention was paid to the introduction of innovations at the meeting. Artificial intelligence, which is being implemented in the KTZ procurement system, has already become a powerful tool. It analyzes technical specifications, checks the compliance of documents with regulations, and identifies possible errors or violations at an early stage. This reduces corruption risks, speeds up the approval process, and helps the company operate strictly within the law. According to Ilya Meshcheryakov, algorithms allow for faster decision-making, minimize the influence of the human factor, and ensure transparency at every stage of procurement.

The results already achieved speak for themselves. The categorical approach applied in the company has resulted in savings of 48 billion tenge. Among the striking examples are the purchase of workwear with uniform quality standards, which has improved occupational safety control, and the joint procurement of IT equipment, which has reduced costs and improved the technical equipment of the divisions.

In 2025, KTZ began updating its medical services strategy. Plans include digitizing medical examinations for employees, introducing KPIs for service providers, and transitioning to long-term contracts. These measures are aimed at improving the quality of employee services and the rational use of company funds.

"We have been given the opportunity to reveal more about our activities. What we do, how we make purchases, how we support domestic manufacturers, and what effect our joint work has. Openness and transparency are the most important principles. Today, new technologies and artificial intelligence help us speed up processes, identify human errors, and act logically and fairly. This not only strengthens trust in KTZ, but also directly affects the quality of service in the country and the development of the economy," Ilya Meshcheryakov emphasized during the conversation.