Train manufacturer Hyundai Rotem said Friday that it won an 83.7 billion won ($80 million) contract to supply 38 trams to the Turkish city of Izmir.

It is the first time the company has secured a tram deal in a foreign market, officials said.

“With the landmark deal, Rotem made a foothold in fast-growing electric-powered global tram market,” the company, part of Hyundai Motor Group, said in a press release.

According to Hyundai Rotem, the Turkish builder Gulermak will be responsible for constructing two 9.7 kilometer- and 12.6 kilometer-long light rail lines in the city, while the Korean company supplies its new low-floor electric streetcars.

The train maker developed an eco-friendly and highly efficient low-floor tram in cooperation state-run Korea Railroad Research Institute in 2009.

More detailed plans, including the service date, have yet to be announced.

Trams or light-rail vehicles are increasingly seen as an alternative to far more expansive underground systems in major cities around the world, including Korea.

Starting with the first Turkish deal, Hyundai Rotem said it aims to make inroads into other train-making markets, including Europe and the Middle East.

By Lee Ji-yoon (jylee@heraldcorp.com)