Astana LRT Operator Looks For Funding In China

City Transportation Systems, the operator of Astana’s LRT project, plans to raise funding for infrastructure projects in Kazakhstan by issuing offshore yuan bonds, Orda.kz reports, citing Xinhua.

According to the Chinese news agency, the agreement on the issuance of offshore bonds was signed by Astana Urban Transport Systems Co., Ltd. from Kazakhstan. CITIC Securities acted as the lead arranger of the issue, while CITIC Bank was the main participant.

The money raised is expected to be directed to local projects in Kazakhstan. Xinhua wrote that the bond issue will help solve problems related to cross-border financing and high financial costs for foreign companies using Chinese financing, as well as support infrastructure development in Kazakhstan.

The deal was presented at the Lujiazui Forum 2026, held in Shanghai on June 17–18. Chinese authorities use such instruments to develop the offshore yuan market and expand financial services in the Shanghai Free Trade Zone.

City Transportation Systems is known as the operator of Astana’s transport system. The company is involved in public transport, the fare payment system, and the LRT project. Construction of the capital’s LRT has remained one of the most problematic infrastructure projects in Kazakhstan for many years.

Original author: Alexander Zhdanov

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