In a move to enhance regional connectivity and trade, Kazakhstan has announced plans to construct the Beyneu-Shalkar highway, connecting its western regions with Uzbekistan. Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov made this announcement during his speech at the 16th summit of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) held in Tashkent.
The newly proposed Beyneu-Shalkar highway is a key component of the 8th TRACECA (Transport Corridor Europe-Caucasus-Asia) road corridor, aimed at strengthening transport connectivity in the region. Prime Minister Smailov emphasized the importance of such infrastructure projects, particularly for ECO member states that lack direct access to the ocean.
"Today,[November 9] Kazakhstan is actively involved in infrastructure and logistics projects, giving priority to the development of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR, or Middle Corridor). In order to increase its potential, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Türkiye are implementing roadmaps to simultaneously eliminate bottlenecks and develop the Middle Corridor until 2027," stated Prime Minister Smailov.
The Middle Corridor is a vital transportation and trade route connecting Asia and Europe, offering an alternative to the traditional Northern and Southern Corridors. This route spans several countries, starting in China and passing through Central Asian nations such as Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan. After crossing the Caspian Sea, it traverses Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Türkiye before reaching Europe.
To optimize the Middle Corridor's capabilities, Kazakhstan is actively involved in projects aimed at increasing route capacity. Collaboration with Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Türkiye involves the elimination of bottlenecks and overall development until 2027. Additionally, Kazakhstan is focusing on improving Caspian Sea ports to facilitate smoother transit.
"We are also actively unlocking the potential of our seaports in the Caspian Sea. A container hub will be built at Aktau port, a multifunctional terminal at Kuryk port. It is planned to build separate station tracks at checkpoints with China for Central Asian countries. We intend to systematically increase cargo traffic in this direction and bring it to 500,000 containers per year by 2030," Prime Minister Smailov revealed.
These initiatives align with the evolving trends in trade and economic development, with the TRACECA corridor playing a crucial role in facilitating transport flows between Western and Central Europe and Central and Southeast Asia. The Middle Corridor emerged as a strategic land route, connecting the eastern parts of Asia, including China, with Europe, offering a shorter alternative to maritime routes.
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