REPUBLIKA.CO.ID,  JAKARTA -- State-owned PT Industri Kereta Api Indonesia (INKA) is preparing to expand its exports of railway cars to Vietnam, Sri Lanka and Egypt, according to its president director, Agus H Purnomo.

"After Bangladesh, INKA is now targeting several other countries in Asia and the Middle East. We are ready to penetrate Vietnam, Sri Lanka and Egypt," he said in a press release issued here on Saturday.

He said the move was taken following its success in meeting Bangladesh's order of passenger cars.

He said in 2015 the company had received a contract to supply 150 railway cars to Bangladesh, which was immediately carried out and their delivery is expected to be completed before the end of this year.

In the bidding process PT INKA was able to beat several rivals from China.

The railway cars that have been ordered are divided into two types with the first totaling 100 unit is a meter gauge (MG) type (for use with 1000 mm tracks) and 50 Broad Gauge (BG) carriages (for use in 1676 mm tracks).

The MG type has a 2+2 seat arrangement with two-seat rows on the left and right side and an aisle in the middle while the BG type has a 2+3 arrangement.

"The operation of the INKA-made cars in Bangladesh was officially launched personally by prime minister Hasina Wajed on Saturday (June 25). The train carrying the cars named Sonar Bangla Express serves the route from Dhaka to Citagong," he said.

"INKA deserves pride as its cars have been used in Bangladesh. So, now we will prepare to enter other countries," he said.

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