Central Asia

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.

In the Almaty region, the establishment of a transport and logistics hub (TLH) aimed at optimizing freight transportation is in the planning stages. According to the Ministry of Transport, details of the project are actively being worked out in collaboration with the national railway company “Қazakhstan temіr zholy” and local authorities to facilitate the movement of goods along key routes.

From November 24 to 25, in the city of Turkistan, with the support of the administration of the Turkistan region, an international economic forum titled “Turkistan: Tourism, Economy, Investments” took place. One of the central topics of discussion was the prospects for the development of the Silk Road.

The Austrian Rail Cargo Group (RCG) is planning to establish its representation in Kazakhstan in response to the country’s head of state’s call for the development of its transportation and logistics potential. Kazakhstan’s Minister of Transport, Marat Karabayev, conducted a series of meetings with international companies to discuss issues related to the development of the country’s transportation infrastructure. During one of these meetings with Rail Cargo Group representative Daniel Dezso, possibilities of the company joining the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TMTM) Association and opening a representation in Kazakhstan were explored.