Singapore-headquartered diversified industrial holding company Kusto Group has announced plans to expand the Wendy’s franchise in the Central Asian region.

Kusto Group plans to open and operate a total of 55 new Wendy’s outlets across Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan by 2030.

Kusto Group said it also intends to launch a next-generation restaurant layout, as well as an artificial intelligence (AI) powered drive-through location in Kazakhstan.

This drive-through restaurant is scheduled to open by the second quarter of 2024.

The move is part of Kusto Group and Wendy’s strategy to expand their presence into new global markets.

The latest announcement was made by Kusto Group founder and chairman Yerkin Tatishev, who was present at Wendy's Annual Franchise Convention, which was held earlier this month in Washington DC.

The convention, which also marked Wendy’s 54th anniversary, involved the participation of various franchise leaders from across the globe, who came together to discuss business priorities.

During this convention, Tatishev and  Wendy’s executives discussed and outlined Kusto’s expansion plans for the Wendy’s franchise in Central Asia.

Tatishev also visited Wendy’s headquarters in Dublin, Ohio, to gain a detailed understanding of new technologies and initiatives.

The US-based fast food restaurant chain currently has a presence in 32 countries, with a focus on expanding its reach into Australia, Central Asia, Saudi Arabia and other markets.

In 2021, Wendy’s signed three strategic development agreements with Kusto Group and Global Investors (Wissol Group) to expand its footprint in the Republic of Georgia, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.