Kazakhstan to increase cargo transportation along North-South corridor

Kazakh Transport Minister Marat Karabayev spoke about the work underway to boost the throughput capacity of the North-South transit corridor, Kazinform News Agency correspondent reports.

Karabayev pointed out that the North-South corridor is becoming even more significant with every passing day due to shifts in traditional logistics routes in the world. The corridor’s throughput capacity is currently estimated at 10 million tons per year.

In 10 months of this year, the actual volume of cargo carried stood at 1.8 million tons. Taking into account the corridor’s potential, it’s planned to boost its throughput capacity to up to 20 million tons. To this end, the roadmap was signed July this year on synchronized development of the corridor with Iran, Turkmenistan and Russia, said the minister during the government session.

The ministry announced special tariff reductions in the amount of 50% for transit transport in order to promote the North-South corridor. Besides, work is ongoing to establish a unified logistics operator on the eastern route of the corridor in the same way as the unified transport logistics company.

Kazakhstani and Russian sides already carried out preparatory procedures to set up a joint venture. Now, we’re expecting to hear from Turkmenistan on its participation in the project, added Karabayev.

Earlier it was reported that Kazakhstan’s Altynkol, Dostyk railway stations are to double their throughput capacity.