Ambitious planning, successful implementation 

Silk Road Samarkand Tourism Complex

The Silk Road Samarkand tourism complex in Usbekistan is a project that breaks new ground in terms of its scale: an international conference centre, eight hotels and extensive leisure facilities have been built on a 260-hectare site. Security played a key role in this prestigious project – Schrack Seconet was the central partner for fire protection and implemented systems in accordance with the latest standards.

Just 20 minutes from the centre of Samarkand, the Silk Road Samarkand tourism complex has created a completely new district. The combination of oriental-inspired design and state-of-the-art facilities has resulted in an ensemble that is unique in Central Asia.

A vision on 260 hectares: bigger, safer, exclusive
Silk Road Samarkand is therefore an ideal starting point for discovering the region and its fantastic cultural treasures, but that's not all: the concept of the tourism complex also addresses business travellers and medical and wellness holidaymakers. Eight hotels with a total capacity of 1,200 rooms are available on the site, catering to a wide range of needs – including the first ‘Leading Hotels of the World’ property in Central Asia, which meets the most exclusive requirements. In addition, there is the largest conference centre in Central Asia with 13 conference rooms that can accommodate 3,500 people.

Key role in Central Asia's largest tourism project
Over 50,000 roses and 30,000 trees were planted for the green spaces on the site, and several canals were created, including a private rowing canal. More than 10,000 specialists were involved in the planning and implementation of the 580 million US dollar investment project. Schrack Seconet was part of the international project team that realised Central Asia's largest tourism complex within just a few years. It was also the largest project ever realised by Schrack Seconet in the region.

The trust factor
The starting signal for Silk Road Samarkand was given on New Year's Eve 2020. Larisa Kirsch, Area Manager at Schrack Seconet, together with the local business partner, had just had a meeting with one of the project's main investors. ‘With a project of this magnitude, trust in your partner is a decisive factor – and we were able to win them over with our corporate philosophy. We don't just want to sell and deliver fire alarm systems; we are fully committed to the project until it is successfully commissioned. We had already proven this in a previous project for the main investor. This gave them the confidence that we would also be able to successfully implement the large-scale Silk Road Samarkand project.’

From meeting to mega project
A second key factor in Schrack Seconet being awarded the contract was scalability. For the general contractor Enter Engineering, it was crucial to be sure that the partner could handle the size of this project and ensure timely completion. ‘We clarified this issue in a joint meeting – and have kept our commitment to this day. The congress centre and hotels were completed on schedule,’ emphasises Larisa Kirsch.

Boundless cooperation
However, the time frame for this was challenging. ’We need everything “yesterday” – that's a favourite expression in Central Asia,’ says Larisa Kirsch with a smile. That meant that the deadlines were generally short. In addition to the time pressure, special efforts were also required to provide the necessary technical specialists on site. In both cases, Schrack Seconet's excellent partner network proved to be a key factor for success. In addition to the partner in Uzbekistan, support was also provided by partners in Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Belarus. Everyone worked together with full commitment to implement the project. And, of course, without the help of the Vienna team, which organized the rapid delivery of such a large amount of equipment, the implementation of such a large project would have been impossible.

Highest technical standards
Safety was a top priority for Silk Road Samarkand, especially in view of the international conferences with high-distinguished guests. Fire protection systems that met the highest standards were therefore also required. Anatolii Perepechkin from Schrack Seconet, who was responsible for technical support for the project, explains: ‘It was an outstanding project in which we were able to fully demonstrate our special technological potential. The implementation was very demanding, but thanks to technical skills of our local business partner, our human resources and a high level of commitment, we were able to meet the requirements. Above all, however, we associate this project with unforgettable memories and many enriching encounters.’

Different cultures
Anatolii Perepechkin was involved in the project from the outset alongside Larisa Kirsch at Schrack Seconet. As a well-established duo and bridge between the customer and partners, they contributed greatly to the success of the project. Larisa Kirsch was also able to contribute her market knowledge and understanding of the differences in mentality between Europe and Central Asia. This is because the basic approach to investment projects differs somewhat: while projects in Europe tend to be planned for the longer term, rapid, short-term implementation is an important criterion in Central Asia. Personal contacts and relationships are also given greater importance there.

Opening with a conference of the BRICS countries
A project of this magnitude means that many things are still in flux and subject to change. At the same time, this makes implementation even more challenging. It took some effort, but in the end, what seemed almost impossible was achieved: the buildings and fire safety measures were completed on time for the first international conference of the BRICS countries, which was attended by leading international politicians. ‘Getting everything up and running on time was a real team effort. It wasn't just a professional milestone, but also a moment of pride and proof of the success of well-functioning cross-border cooperation,’ recalls Larisa Kirsch.

19,000 sensors intelligently networked
More than 19,000 MTD 533X multiple sensor detectors are now installed in hotel rooms and other areas in the eight hotels and the convention centre. They are connected to a total of 48 control panels. 2,900 modules also provide door control and much more. In rooms with high ceilings and other areas where conventional detectors cannot meet the normative requirements, 65 linear smoke detectors were also installed. Furthermore, the Secolog IP fire alarm management system keeps all systems under constant surveillance.

Expansion with Integral WAN
However, the project is not yet complete for Schrack Seconet: ‘We are still working on fine-tuning and further development, and in the upcoming future our powerful, flexible network solution Integral WAN will be implemented,’ reports Larisa Kirsch. It is a project she feels particularly attached to: ‘It was a special experience to see Silk Road Samarkand come to life – and to know what contribution we have made to this success.’