According to the Ordabasy Corp. manager in charge of joint venture projects, Adilkhan Umerbayev, some of this 5% will be exported to EU countries. The joint venture will see a 4 million unit capacity passenger car tyre plant constructed in the Central Asian state by 2009, the Ordabasy executive explained in a report published by the Reuters news agency.

"We are now in the process of acquiring know-how and technical documentation from Nokian Tyres," Umerbayev said. "We plan to launch the first production line with capacity of 1 million tyres in summer or autumn next year." The plant is expected to reach its full capacity within four years of production starting.

The factory will produce Nokian and Nordman brands, as well as a special Astana brand for the domestic market. (Tyres & Accessories/Staffordshire, U.K.)