60% of Almaty public transport to become ecologically-friendly in Q1 2014

60% of public transport will become ecologically friendly by the end of the 1st quarter of 2014 in Almaty city, Tengrinews reports citing Almaty Akim (Mayor) Akhmetzhan Yessimov as saying in his speech about innovations at the 1st Almaty Investment Forum today, December 3. "The first line of subway has been launched. Two more stations, large trolleybus and tramway fleets with a total of over 200 new vehicles, 400 new buses and a fleet of eco-taxis running on natural gas will be launched next year. Nearly 300 new gas-fueled buses will be supplied to Almaty by the end of the 1st quarter of 2014 and the share of ecologically friendly public transport vehicles in the overall public transport fleet of Almaty will exceed 60%," he said at the International Investment Forum in Almaty. Representatives of Kazakhstan government, heads of international financial institutes, prominent economists and a wide range of experts took part in the forum. Investment opportunities of Almaty city and new mechanisms of project funding were presented at the event. The participants also discussed development of transport and logistics infrastructure, implementation of various innovative systems, development of tourism and readying the ground for transitioning to the green economy. Besides, a platform for cooperation of business representatives and investors to set up joint projects and sign new contracts was arranged at the forum. By Azhar Ashimova