Central Asia

The new terminal, established within the framework of the Kazakhstan-China logistics hub “One Belt, One Road” in Xi’an, has commenced operation in a testing phase, unlocking extensive opportunities for Kazakh agrarians and exporters. Direct cargo shipments have become more efficient, fostering the development of value-added chains in the agricultural sector and ensuring faster deliveries of agricultural products to global markets.

Uzbekistan has sought assistance from Qatar to advance the Trans-Afghan Railway project, as reported by Trend. The collaboration was discussed during a meeting between Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. Emphasizing bilateral cooperation, the discussions included strategies to enhance relations in the transportation and logistics sectors. Notably, Qatar has expressed full support for Uzbekistan’s Trans-Afghan Railway initiative. Uzbekistan Railways JSC presented the project to Qatar’s Ministry of Transport in October 2023, initiating talks on Qatar’s involvement in the project’s execution. The envisioned $5 billion corridor aims to connect Europe, Russia, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, and Southeast Asian countries, facilitating transit of up to 20 million tons of cargo. The Termez-Mazar-I-Sharif-Kabul-Peshawar railway road map, signed by the administrations of Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan in February 2021, underlines the collaborative effort to establish this vital transport link.

The Bakhty-Ayagoz railway line, spanning 272 km, is expected to increase the throughput capacity between Kazakhstan and China from 28 to around 48 million tons. The commissioning of the double-track railway is scheduled for 2027. The project will be implemented with the participation of a private investor under the principles of public-private partnership (PPP). It includes the construction of 11 stations, 47 bridges, 23 railway and 8 road viaducts, along with the establishment of a container hub.

Lithuania and Kazakhstan express readiness to strengthen collaboration in the field of transportation and logistics, considering the possibility of restoring direct air connections between the two countries. Satzhan Ablaliev, the Vice Minister of Transport of Kazakhstan, met with the newly appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Lithuania to discuss the results of cooperation in transportation, international road transport, and civil aviation. The parties also agreed to further enhance their interaction within the upcoming Intergovernmental Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation, scheduled for the first quarter of 2024 in Vilnius.

“Azerbaijan Railways” CJSC’s subsidiary, “ADY Container,” is set to launch a collaborative service with COSCO SHIPPING Lines, a global shipping giant, establishing a vital link between Kazakhstan’s Aktau and Turkmenistan’s Turkmenbashi ports and Romania’s Constanta port. This strategic partnership will facilitate combined rail and sea transportation between Aktau, Turkmenbashi, and Constanta, streamlining connectivity. As part of this initiative, “ADY Container” will oversee the transportation of container trains from Aktau and Turkmenbashi to Batumi port in Georgia via the Caspian Sea and railway. Subsequently, COSCO SHIPPING Lines’ vessels will carry the containers from Batumi to Constanta port in Romania.

China has successfully inaugurated the first high-speed rail journey on the Jinan-Zhengzhou route, connecting the capitals of Shandong and Henan provinces. This 407 km-long high-speed rail, introduced in phases, saw the opening of the first section from Puyang to Zhengzhou for passenger service in June of last year, with construction on the second section from Jinan to Puyang (208 km) initiated in December 2019.

Copenhagen, Denmark – A.P. Moller – Maersk (Maersk) is gearing up to introduce the initial vessel of its 18-strong fleet of large methanol-enabled ships, with the maiden voyage set to commence on February 9, 2024, along the AE7 route connecting Asia and Europe. The vessel, constructed by Hyundai Heavy Industries in South Korea, boasts a nominal capacity of 16,000 containers (TEU) and features a dual-fuel engine, allowing operations on methanol, biodiesel, and conventional bunker fuel. Maersk’s commitment to achieving Net-Zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040 is exemplified by this groundbreaking move, positioning the company as a leader in sustainable shipping.

Today, Kazakhstan’s railway system is pivotal to meeting the country’s economic export demands, with shipments reaching 70.7 million tons this year, marking an 8.5% increase. A comprehensive program by Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ) aims to ensure smooth transportation through repairs, maintenance, infrastructure modernization, and new rail lines.

Representatives from “ADY Container” LLC, a subsidiary of “Azerbaijan Railways” CJSC, actively participated in the “European Silk Road Summit” held in Budapest, Hungary, from November 29 to December 1, 2023.