Arman Shakkaliyev participates in C5+1 Regional Connectivity Ministerial in Samarkand
On October 24, the city of Samarkand in Uzbekistan hosted C5+1 Regional Connectivity Ministerial Conference, the main diplomatic platform for the interaction of the Central Asian states - Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan - with the US government, Kazinform News Agency reports via the Kazakh Ministry of Trade and Integration.
The Central Asian region demonstrates a high dynamics of population increase with a high percentage of young people. The countries of Central Asia complement each other in food security ensuring by turning into a food hub for third countries.
Commodity turnover between Kazakhstan and Central Asian countries increased by a quarter last year and reached 7.9 billion US dollars due to 26.7% growth in the Kazakh goods exports and 23.1% increase in imports from the Central Asia states.
Addressing the participants Minister of Trade and Integration of Kazakhstan Arman Shakkaliyev noted that the Central Asian region has turned into a key link in the global transportations and plays an important role of a continental bridge in North-South and East-West directions.
Kazakhstan has become the most important transport and logistics center in Eurasia, covering 11 international transit routes – five railroads and six highways.
“We are ready to contribute to the protection of the global supply chains. The Central Trans-Caspian Network has been identified as the most sustainable transport network connecting Central Asia with the Trans-European Transport Network. Over the past three years, container traffic along the route has increased more than 13 times,” said Arman Shakkaliyev.
The development of the Trans-Caspian route is of great importance for Kazakhstan as a reliable supplier of energy resources and strategic goods to Europe and global markets, including the United States.
Arman Shakkaliyev also noted that Kazakhstan is keen on creating a “container hub” on the ground of Aktau and Kuryk ports, as well as on acquisition of new sea vessels.
“We aspire to strengthen our position as the Eurasian transport and logistics center, by ensuring the role of the Central Asian region in global logistics. Kazakhstan is committed to continuing the C5+1 dialogue in many areas, including energy and environment, economic growth, peace and stability in Central Asia. We look forward to practical results within the framework of the C5+1 working group,” noted he.
On the sidelines of the C5+ 1 Ministerial Conference, the Kazakh Minister also met with the USAID Administrator Samantha Power. The sides discussed the bilateral and regional cooperation, including digitalization, ecology, sustainability and Middle Corridor prospects.
