Samsung Electronics is accelerating its local manufacturing footprint in Central Asia by officially launching production of AI-powered smart washing machines in Kazakhstan. Following locally assembled TVs, the move marks another step in diversifying its product manufacturing in the region.
On April 29, Samsung’s Central Eurasia subsidiary (SECE) announced a strategic partnership with Kazakh electronics manufacturer Silk Road Electronics to begin contract manufacturing of Samsung washing machines. Mass production is scheduled to begin later this year at Silk Road’s factory in Saran, near Karaganda.
Initial output will target the domestic Kazakh market, with plans to explore export opportunities in the future. The Samsung washing machines produced at the site will be premium models equipped with AI-based features that detect laundry volume and soil levels to automatically optimize wash cycles-offering a highly personalized user experience.
This partnership builds on a prior agreement between the two companies to locally manufacture Samsung TVs. The companies signed a contract in February following a formal agreement in December 2023. The TVs, like the washing machines, are being assembled at the same Silk Road facility and will be distributed both within Kazakhstan and to nearby markets. At the signing, both parties announced that locally produced TVs would go on sale starting in the second quarter of this year.
With this expanded collaboration, Samsung aims to establish Kazakhstan as a key production hub for Central Asia. The strategy allows Samsung to reduce logistics and tariff costs, while Silk Road secures stable, large-scale contracts-creating a win-win partnership.
Silk Road began operating its Saran facility in November 2023. The plant currently employs over 400 workers and manufactures TVs, washing machines, vacuum cleaners, and gas stoves. The company plans to increase annual production capacity to 1.1 million units and expand its workforce to 1,200 employees.
Samsung first entered the Kazakh market in 1996 and established its SECE office in Almaty in 2008. Since then, it has used Kazakhstan as a strategic base for expanding into nearby countries such as Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Mongolia. In its early years, Samsung saw annual sales growth of over 40%, and since the 2000s, it has dominated local markets for smartphones, TVs, monitors, microwaves, and air conditioners.
