New trade and logistics center to open along Western Europe-Western China corridor

Minister of Trade and Integration Arman Shakkaliyev spoke on the construction of a trade and logistics complex along the Western Europe-Western China international corridor at the Government’s weekly meeting today, Kazinform News Agency reports.

The minister reminded of the President’s task to form a pool of full-fledged transport-logistics hubs in the Central Asian and Caspian region.

“For this purpose, transport and logistics centers as well as trade facilities are built on the borders with China, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Russian Federation and along the Caspian coastline. These measures will let facilitate trade integration with the near-border countries, boost non-resource exports by 30% and simplify logistics procedures for business,” the minister noted.

According to him, the new  complex will be built near the Karasu (Kazakhstan) and Ak-Tilek (Kyrgyzstan) border checkpoints.

“These border checkpoints are one of the busiest sections of the international corridor. The complex will specialize in warehousing, pre-sale preparation, consolidation and redistribution of the goods,” he said.

Agricultural  and food companies as well as wholesale and retail trade entities will be among the residents of the trade and logistics complex.

"The complex will offer a simplified system of border crossing and registration of vehicles and cargo. A new bridge will be built to ease the burden on the existing checkpoints. The administration of  Zhambyl region together with the Ministry of Transport  will take the necessary measures to implement the project in 2025,” he added.

The complex is planned to be launched in 2026.

Earlier, the President of Kazakhstan ratified the agreement between Kazakh and Kyrgyz governments on construction and regulation of activities of an industrial trade and logistics complex in the territory of the Karasu and Ak Tilek road-transport checkpoints.