Kazakhstan is ready to cooperate with the European Global Gateway (GG) program. The Ministry of Transport of Kazakhstan has discussed the directions of proposed cooperation.
According to the department, the European Union is implementing this program to ensure the long-term recovery of the global economy. In this context, by 2027, the plan is to mobilize up to 300 billion euros in investments to develop high-tech, environmentally friendly, and safe global connections in areas such as transport, energy, digitalization, healthcare, education, and research.
As noted by the Ministry of Transport, Kazakhstan has a number of infrastructure projects that require funding for implementation. Therefore, the government is holding meetings to discuss cooperation within the GG initiative. Since October of last year, five events have been held, including meetings, presentations, and briefings. For instance, this year, the ministry proposed Kazakhstan’s transport infrastructure projects during the second EU – Central Asia Economic Forum in Almaty, as well as during a briefing of the heads of diplomatic missions of the G7 countries.
In particular, there was discussion about creating a container hub at the Aktau seaport, with a preliminary cost of 13.7 billion tenge. The preparation of the technical and economic justification is expected to be completed this year.
Also included in the pool of proposed initiatives is the construction of the multifunctional “Sarzha” terminal with an anticipated financing volume of 154 billion tenge. This facility will include grain, oil loading, and universal terminals, as well as a general cargo terminal. The company Abu Dhabi Ports is interested in developing the grain terminal, with an agreement on principles signed on August 15 of this year. The construction of the facility is already underway by the Kazakh company Semurg Invest.
Additionally, projects were proposed for expanding the trading fleet, building trade and logistics hubs, a shipbuilding plant, etc. A list of all projects was provided to the European side.
Overall, according to plans for the development of the Middle Corridor by 2030, the throughput capacity is expected to increase to 20 million tons per year, including 300,000 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units).
In this regard, as part of the development of port infrastructure, it is planned to build terminal capacities in the ports of Aktau and Kuryk.
Project documentation is also being developed for dredging works in the ports of Aktau and Kuryk. Preliminary estimates put the cost of the project at 40.4 billion tenge.
Meanwhile, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, in a meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, expressed readiness for joint efforts to increase the transit capacities of the Trans-Caspian Transport Route and its integration with the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) and the Global Gateway initiative.