In August in Almaty, the sunshine is scorching, and the air is filled with the unique dry atmosphere of Central Asia. When Li Tingbiao, Deputy General Manager of Nanjing Electric Technology Group and Chairman of Nanjing Electric Power Engineering Co., Ltd., walked out of the exhibition hall, a layer of fine sweat beads had already formed on his forehead. He raised his hand and wiped it, his eyes fell on the the Belt and Road theme banner hanging outside the exhibition hall, and a determined smile rose from his mouth - the goal of this trip is landing step by step.

This is the venue of the Central Asian Clean Energy Exhibition hosted by Jiangsu Suhao Group from August 20th to 22nd, 2026. Over the course of three days, multiple new energy companies from Jiangsu, China gathered in Kazakhstan, bringing technology, capital, and cooperation plans to closely connect with political and business representatives from Central Asian countries. For the Nanjing Electric delegation led by Li Tingbiao, this trans Eurasian visit was given a clear mission from the beginning: to respond to the the Belt and Road initiative and extend the company's engineering reach to the clean energy market in Central Asia.

Memorandum officially signed

On the second day of the exhibition, the crowd gathered in front of the signing table on the second floor of the exhibition hall. Li Tingbiao sat opposite the representative of MOHTA Company in Kyrgyzstan, and both parties solemnly signed the cooperation document. The value of this memorandum of cooperation for the hydropower project is 3 million US dollars, marking an important breakthrough for Nanjing Electric in the field of clean energy EPC overseas.

The signing ceremony was brief yet solemn. There were no lengthy speeches on site, and both sides exchanged documents, shook hands, and took photos before turning to closed door negotiations. According to attendees, the hydropower project will rely on Kyrgyzstan's abundant hydraulic resources and be provided with engineering design, equipment supply, and general contracting services by Nanjing Electric. For a company that has been deeply involved in the domestic power engineering field for a long time, the significance of this step of going abroad goes far beyond the contract amount itself - it means that Nanjing Electric's engineering capabilities have gained initial recognition in the Central Asian market.

Intensive political and business talks are underway

Taking advantage of the opportunity to participate in the exhibition, Li Tingbiao also held multiple talks with several Chinese and foreign political figures, including the Deputy Mayor of Kunayev City in Kazakhstan and the Standing Committee of Changzhou Municipal Party Committee. Both inside and outside the venue, the topic always revolves around one core: how to turn the water flow in Central Asia into a sustainable current.

Cross border new energy investment policies are the primary topic of discussion among all parties. Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan both have considerable hydropower reserves, but due to limitations in power grid infrastructure and funding technology bottlenecks, the development of small and medium-sized hydropower stations is far from reaching its potential limit. The Deputy Mayor of Kunayev City introduced the local encouragement measures for foreign investment in the energy sector during the exchange, including specific policies such as tax reduction and approval of green channels. The Standing Committee of Changzhou Municipal Party Committee discussed the feasible path for Jiangsu manufacturing enterprises to connect with Central Asian resources from the perspective of local industrial synergy.

Regional power grid interconnection is another key issue. The power grids of Central Asian countries have long been relatively independent, and cross-border power transmission faces practical obstacles such as inconsistent technical standards and imperfect dispatch mechanisms. All parties present believe that as hydropower projects gradually land in the region, promoting grid interconnection will become a key prerequisite for unleashing the potential of energy cooperation.

Steady progress in Central Asia layout

This signing is not an isolated event. In recent years, the development of clean energy in Central Asia has continued to heat up. The Kyrgyz government has clearly identified hydropower as the core pillar of its national energy strategy and plans to significantly increase the proportion of hydropower in total power generation over the next decade. Kazakhstan is also actively promoting the transformation of its energy structure, with wind power, photovoltaics, and hydropower being integrated into multiple lines.

Nanjing Electric's decision to enter the Central Asian market at this time is quite precise. The company has accumulated rich experience in hydropower station EPC in China, forming a complete chain from survey and design to equipment manufacturing, construction and installation. This cooperation with MOHTA company is the first trial of exporting this mature capability overseas.

According to Li Tingbiao during the meeting, Nanjing Electric has listed Central Asia as one of the key directions for overseas business expansion. In addition to the hydropower project signed this time, the company is also in contact with multiple parties to explore more possibilities for cooperation in the development of small and medium-sized hydropower stations, comprehensive utilization of water resources, and other fields. All parties have reached a preliminary consensus on the future joint development of comprehensive utilization of water resources in Central Asia, which opens up space for future project reserves.keywords:Engineering infrastructure

On the evening of the closing day of the exhibition, Li Tingbiao stood on the square outside the exhibition hall, looking at the silhouette of the Tianshan Mountains in the distance. The three-day intensive itinerary made him slightly tired, but there was a clear sense of direction in his eyes. For Nanjing Electric, Central Asia is not a distant geographical term, but a real market map that is unfolding. The $3 million memo is just a starting point, the real project is still ahead.Editor/Yang Meiling