Kazakh, Chinese businesses discuss transport and logistics in Astana

Kazakh and Chinese businesses discussed trade and export channels between the two countries at the Forum of Kazakh Exporters in Astana on March 26, Kazinform News Agency correspondent reports.

Kazakhstan's geoeconomic location provides an opportunity for the development of exports in strategically important areas of world trade centers. The main trade routes established on land are rail and road, paving the way for 13 transport corridors.

Kazakhstan’s Vice Minister of Transport Maksat Kaliakparov said as of the end of 2023, the volume of rail freight transportation between Kazakhstan and China surpassed 28 million tons.

“2.2 million tons were transported in transit, twice more than in 2022,” he said.

He noted the plan is to complete the construction of a container hub in the port of Aktau, which will increase the throughput capacity to 300,000 twenty-foot equivalent units per year.

“Today, there are 170 transport and logistics centers in Kazakhstan, and by 2025, we plan to build about 65 more,” he added.

Kazakhstan will also build an additional 1,200 kilometers of railway to expand trade between partner countries and regions within the country.

Aibek Kapar, Deputy General Director for Logistics at Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ) national railway company, spoke about the country’s main trade corridors.

“Despite changes in global logistics in recent years, continental transit along the China-Europe-China route remains a strategic direction for the development of Kazakhstan's transit. One of the promising transit routes through Kazakhstan is the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, also known as the Middle Corridor and the Northern Corridor,” he said.

According to him, the eastern North-South direction is a promising route for transporting Kazakhstan’s products to the markets of Iran, India, the Persian Gulf, and North Africa. The corridor's current throughput capacity is 6 million tons, and it has the potential to increase its production capacity to 27 million tons.

Kapar also noted that KTZ is planning to construct new railway lines and border crossings to reduce congestion and increase export access.

Su Yu, Counselor for Trade and Economic Issues of the Embassy of China in Kazakhstan, spoke about the dynamic trade between Kazakhstan and China.

“China is ready to work with Kazakhstan to deepen economic and trade relations not only within the One Belt—One Road initiative but also in the electronics industry,” Su Yu said.