GE, Kazakhstan railroad in $500 mln service pact

* GE to service Kazakh locomotives for 15 years

* GE to build locomotive-assembly plant in Kazakhstan

BOSTON, May 29 - General Electric Co said on Friday it had signed a 15-year contract worth about $500 million to service locomotives owned by Kazakhstan's state-owned railway.

The largest U.S. conglomerate also plans to invest in a locomotive assembly plant in the central Asian country, which would employ more than 600 people and be capable of assembling 100 locomotives a year.

"The ongoing cooperation between GE and the Republic of Kazakhstan is proof that a strategic partnership can help fuel long-term economic growth," Jeff Immelt, GE's chief executive, said in a statement.

The world's largest maker of jet engines and electricity-producing turbines, GE has made a "company to country strategy" a key part of growth in emerging markets. Under that initiative, top officials from the Fairfield, Connecticut-based company aim to negotiate with top officials on major infrastructure projects that use GE equipment.

On Tuesday, GE said it had reached a "company to country" agreement with Nigeria intended to step up its work with that African nation.

GE's Transportation unit, which makes locomotives, last year earned $962 million on $5 billion in revenue.