Kazakhstan-made bicycles to hit Swiss market

Nomad bicycles made in Kazakhstan will enter the market of Switzerland, Tengrinews reports citing the National Agency for Export and Investments Kaznex Invest. Almaty-based company Merida-KZ has already dispatched a pilot batch of bicycles to Switzerland. European authorities have already made preliminary technical checks and confirmed that Nomad bicycles meet all the requirements of the European market in terms of the quality of its parts and assembly. "Why Switzerland? The countries population makes over 7.7 million people, and they own almost 4 million bicycles. It is a bicycle country. Bicycles are part of their lifestyle. Veloland Schweiz project was launched in 1998 in Switzerland. It is a network of nation-wide cycling routes. In some cities of Switzerland bicycle can be borrowed free of charge. That is why as a producer we are very interested in entering the Swiss market. It is an excellent opportunity to demonstrate the quality of our goods and enter a new level of sales," Marat Akyngaziyev, Director of Marida-KZ, said. Merida-KZ started producing bicycle in 2007. It now has a line of 28 different models of bikes -- from children’s and urban bikes to MTB-profi and BMX bicycles. The Kazakhstan-based company is the only bicycle producer in Central Asia, and it is its first attempt of export. The company is also planning to enter the markets of the neighbouring countries like Russia, Tadjikistan and Afghanistan with the help of Kaznex Invest.