Central Asia powers machinery revival

After weathering more than two years of weak domestic sales, China's heavy equipment giants are gearing up to pursue huge opportunities in Central Asia's infrastructure market.

The opportunities involve roads, housing and manufacturing facilities as Central Asian nations strive to achieve their goals in the areas of infrastructure, urbanization and industrialization.

Lu Chuan, vice-president of Jiangsu-based Xuzhou Construction Machinery Group Import & Export Co Ltd, said his company plans to invest 3 billion yuan ($490 million) in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region to build a large manufacturing base where it will make cranes, excavators and bulldozers for the Central Asian markets.