Turkey and the wider Middle East region have long been regarded as strategically important markets for the Czech railway industry. Czech companies have implemented dozens of projects there—from turnouts and trams to components and complete high-speed rail systems. Major public investments in infrastructure, the development of urban and regional transport, and ambitions in technology exports create opportunities for securing significant contracts and expanding Czech exports to Turkey and the broader region.
Marie Vopálenská, CEO of ACRI Czech Railway Industry Association, member of UNIFE, commented: “Turkey and the wider Middle East represent a dynamically developing region for the Czech railway industry. Our members have a long-standing presence here, and the Eurasia Rail fair proves that Czech companies have much to offer in the field of rail transport—from turnouts and components to sophisticated electronic systems and entire traction units. The joint ACRI exhibition, supported by the Ministry of Industry and Trade, helps companies succeed even in highly demanding markets.”
Lenka Koucká of the Czech Ministry of Industry and Trade added: “Participation in joint exhibitions and trade fairs is a highly effective export support tool that our ministry offers to Czech companies—be it Berlin’s InnoTrans, TRAKO in Gdańsk, or Eurasia Rail in Istanbul. Exhibitors have the opportunity to attract new customers and deepen existing business ties with their foreign partners.”
Czech Ambassador to Turkey, Petr Štěpánek, who officially opened the Czech exhibition at Eurasia Rail, noted: “Turkey is one of the most important non-EU export markets, and rail transport is a stable component of our exports. Czech companies succeed here thanks not only to high-quality technologies but also their ability to establish long-term relationships. Moreover, Turkey serves as a gateway to other markets in the region, offering substantial growth potential.”
Olga Hajflerová, Consul General of the Czech Republic in Istanbul, added:
“The Czech Republic enjoys a strong reputation in Turkey—we are perceived as a reliable and valuable partner. Turkish stakeholders appreciate Czech technological precision and the ability to deliver high-quality solutions. Personal relationships and long-term trust are key here.”
Partnerships with Local Stakeholders as a Prerequisite for Success
Despite a positive reputation, entering the Turkish market is far from straightforward. Many companies confirm that success depends on partnerships with local entities and partial localization of production, especially for state tenders.
“Entering the Turkish market is not a matter of months—it’s a long-term effort. The key is to find a suitable partner with local know-how,” said Tomáš Haišman of AMiT Group. Škoda Group emphasized the requirement for a minimum share of Turkish components in public tenders, which effectively precludes delivery of final products without local manufacturing. BORCAD and VÚKV share similar experiences, noting that the Turkish state strongly supports domestic industry and prefers products manufactured—at least partially—within the country.
Eurasia Rail: Where Essential Partnerships for Entering the Turkish Market Are Formed
Held in Istanbul from 18 to 20 June, Eurasia Rail is the region’s largest rail industry trade fair and the third-largest specialized rail transport fair globally. It attracts hundreds of exhibitors and thousands of professionals from Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and North Africa. For Czech companies, the fair offers an excellent opportunity to connect with partners, customers, and representatives from the public sector.
At the joint ACRI exhibition, companies such as Škoda Group, AMiT, CZ LOKO, MSV elektronika, BORCAD, DT – Výhybkárna a strojírna and others are presenting their technologies and experiences from Turkish and international projects.
Key Examples of Czech Railway Technology in Turkish Practice – From Trams to Metro Turnouts in Istanbul
- Škoda Group has been active in Turkey since 2008, delivering trams, traction systems, and components for electric locomotives. The company is currently in talks with TÜRASAŞ regarding collaboration on national projects, focusing on key component supplies due to localization requirements.
- AMiT supplies complete information systems for trams and modernized high-speed trains, having completed several successful projects with a local partner. New contracts are currently under negotiation.
- BORCAD specializes in premium train seating, having previously delivered electrically controlled seats for Siemens Velaro high-speed trains in Turkey and sleeper cars for Bulgaria in cooperation with Tüvasaş.
- CZ LOKO has delivered 14 locomotives to Turkey—12 are in use at Erdemir and Isdemir steelworks, and 2 serve as backup units in Istanbul. The company sees further opportunities, particularly in industrial shunting.
- DT – Výhybkárna a strojírna has delivered hundreds of turnouts and components for railways, trams, and metro systems in cities such as Izmir, Istanbul, and Ankara. Discussions are underway for new contracts with Istanbul metro expansion projects.
- MSV elektronika works with ERA Elektronik and supplies lighting systems to companies like Isdemir. It also provides subsystems to major manufacturers like Škoda Group, CZ LOKO, and Talgo.
- VÚKV performs fatigue and dynamic testing for clients like Bozankaya and maintains long-term relationships with firms such as FZK, Rail Tour, and VAKO.
Statements from Czech Company Representatives on Their Turkish Activities
Jaromír Šilhánek, President of Business Units, Škoda Electric / Škoda Group:
“We’ve been active in Turkey since around 2008. Our first project involved supplying drives for Otokar LRV vehicles in Istanbul. This was followed by extensive deliveries of traction systems for electric locomotives in cooperation with Hyundai Rotem from 2012 to 2015. We’ve also worked on tram projects in Eskişehir and Konya. Our most recent significant activity was the acquisition of bus manufacturer Temsa. We are currently negotiating with TÜRASAŞ on component supplies and potential joint projects.”
“Turkey has its specificities—such as the requirement to finance some tenders in Turkish lira, which poses challenges for many foreign suppliers. There is also a strong emphasis on localization—either through local suppliers or direct manufacturing.”
“Turkey could also serve as a gateway to further export markets. For instance, TÜRASAŞ has strong export ambitions in countries like Uzbekistan or Georgia, and partnering with Škoda may open joint project opportunities. Turkish partners also have the financial and mechanical capabilities to support these efforts.”
Olesea Lachi, Vice President of Škoda Group for Sales in Southern and Eastern Europe:
“We supply both final products and key components to Turkey. For example, we previously delivered 86 trams to Eskişehir and Konya. Our subsidiary, Škoda Electric, completed major projects for state railway operator TCDD, including full traction systems for electric locomotives. The Škoda Group name is well recognized here.”
“At Eurasia Rail, we are meeting with current customers and open to new opportunities. Škoda Electric is currently developing several key component supply projects.”
“Unfortunately, we cannot deliver final products directly due to mandatory localization percentages—up to 51% must be produced in Turkey. Since 2017, this regulation has effectively blocked non-local production. Other challenges include currency volatility and low-cost competition. Our main opportunity lies in supplying components through partnerships on national projects.”
Tomáš Hajšman, Group Sales Director, AMiT Group:
“We are no newcomers here—we already have a track record. Entering the Turkish market is a long-term endeavor, and finding the right partner was crucial. After two to three years, the cooperation has paid off. We are now involved in tram and high-speed train modernization projects.”
“For instance, we delivered full passenger information systems for 74 Durmazlar trams across four cities. We also worked on two projects with Škoda Group, delivering CCTV systems, driver consoles, and TCMS components for 88 trams. Currently, we are supplying full audio and CCTV systems for TCDD’s high-speed train renovation project with CAF. We have scheduled meetings with Bozankaya and our high-speed rail modernization partners.”
“We are also targeting countries in the Middle East, North Africa, and Asia, with support from the Czech Foreign Ministry and PROPED. We have strong partnerships with Mitsubishi Electric and companies in South Korea and India, supplying components and systems for ABB, CLW, BHEL, and SIEMENS—both for Indian Railways and metros in Delhi, Mumbai, and Noida.”
“Turkey, the Middle East, and Asia could one day represent half of our turnover. Localization—in various forms—is key, including transferring parts of production, testing, and assembly to the target country. This is a strategic decision requiring financial, technical, and time resources.”
“We are a highly export-oriented firm. Over 50% of our output is exported, and our products are present in more than 58 countries—partly thanks to partnerships with Škoda, Stadler, and Siemens. AMiT also expanded its portfolio through the acquisition of Bustec, a renowned supplier of passenger information systems for buses, trams, and trains, many of which operate in Turkey.”
Tomáš Boruta, Sales and Marketing Director, BORCAD:
“The Turkish market is accessible either through local partners or cooperation with major rolling stock producers. We see opportunities in premium seating for tourist and high-speed trains. We previously supplied electric premium seats for Siemens Velaro in Turkey and worked with Tüvasaş on sleeper trains for Bulgaria.”
“Our seats are comparable to business class airline seats, with heating, personal lighting, and electrical adjustments. We have supplied these for the Glacier Express in Switzerland, the Rocky Mountaineer in Canada, as well as Leo Express and the Hungarian State Railways. This segment caters heavily to tourism, where seat comfort enhances the overall travel experience—this is where BORCAD excels.”
Martin Stejskal, Senior Key Account Manager, CZ LOKO:
“We’ve been delivering to Turkey for the last ten years. We have six EffiShunter 600 locomotives in heavy shunting at Erdemir and another six at Isdemir. Two additional 741.7 locomotives are in Istanbul, serving as backup for operations near the Bosphorus.”
“There is clear potential here—especially for heavy industry and shunting. We’ve had talks with several companies, including the national railway operator TCDD.”
“We are an established player in Turkey. Our customers have first-hand experience with our locomotives, which opens doors to new contracts. There’s price pressure, but the market remains accessible.”
“We are also monitoring other regional markets like Azerbaijan, which we see as promising despite not yet having a presence there.”
Dušan Kadlec, Commercial Director, DT – Výhybkárna a strojírna:
“Turkey is not new to us. We have delivered hundreds of turnouts and components for railway, tramway, and metro networks, with major projects in Izmir, Istanbul, and Ankara. At this fair, for example, we are meeting with a company working on new metro lines in Istanbul, and we hope it will lead to a new contract for turnouts.”
Radek Škrobánek, CEO, MSV elektronika:
“We’ve established a partnership with ERA Elektronik, which not only represents us locally but brings leads from other markets like India. Recently, Isdemir also requested lighting samples.”
“Our strategy is to boost exports and double both turnover and profit in five years. Currently, exports make up about 10% of our business. In addition to Turkey, we see strong potential in the Baltics and Western Europe.”
“We are engaging both directly with Turkish firms and through companies like DAKO-CZ, Škoda Group, CZ LOKO, Talgo, and Stadler—providing subsystems such as control units, lighting, and door or toilet electronics. If our OEM partners succeed abroad, it benefits us as well. At fairs like this, Turkish clients can see how our systems integrate into their products. This synergy is key.”
Lukáš Obadal, Head of Sales, MSV elektronika:
“We see the greatest opportunity in external LED lighting for rolling stock—this is the focus of our presentation. We have thousands of installations globally. For example, we’re currently developing exterior lights for the Taipei Metro and have already supplied systems for Dubai in partnership with a French firm. We are now also expanding into interior lighting solutions.”
Zdeněk Malkovský, CEO, VÚKV:
“In Turkey, we focus primarily on testing. We maintain long-term business relationships with Bozankaya, FZK, Rail Tour, and VAKO. Because we offer testing services—supporting their R&D—the market is less closed to us. We’re currently conducting fatigue tests on bogie frames and performance testing for Bozankaya.”
“However, for other companies, entering the market is more difficult due to the state’s strong support for domestic production. This is why many large foreign firms establish local representation or production facilities or work closely with Turkish partners.”
