Central Asia

In an interview with the Turkistan newspaper, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev stated that developing transit and logistics is a strategic priority for the country. Despite being landlocked, Kazakhstan occupies a central position in Eurasia, located at the intersection of major international transport routes. According to the head of state, this competitive advantage must be fully leveraged, and the long-term goal is to establish Kazakhstan as a transport hub and logistics hub for the entire continent.

On December 31, 2025, Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan Olzhas Bektenov signed a decree establishing the national state institution “Center for Digital Development of Transport Logistics.” The document entered into force on the date of signing and was published in the Information and Legal System of Regulatory Legal Acts of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The decision was made in accordance with subparagraph 4) of Article 11 of the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan “On State Property.”

Alataw Pass remains one of the key rail gateways between China and Central Asia, connecting onward to Europe via Kazakhstan. The volumes recorded in 2025 reflect sustained use of the corridor for long-distance freight movements linking Chinese inland production centres with European destinations.

Kazakhstan Temir Zholy National Company JSC and KazMunayGas National Company JSC, in compliance with the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan’s order to digitalize petroleum product circulation, have implemented a mechanism for the operational exchange of information. This joint solution aims to create a transparent and continuous system for monitoring the movement of petroleum product railcars within the country, as well as monitoring their import volumes.

Since the beginning of 2025, Kazakhstan has recorded an 8.1% increase in freight traffic by all modes of transport compared to the same period last year. From January to November, the country’s transport system transported 1.056 billion tons of freight, with total freight turnover reaching 522.4 billion tonne-kilometers, an 11.8% increase compared to the same period in 2024. Passenger traffic also increased by 11.9% to 1.764 billion passengers, with passenger turnover increasing by 7.6% to 81.5 billion passenger-kilometers.

The Tianshan Shengli Tunnel, the central section of the Urumqi-Yuli Expressway and the longest highway tunnel in the world, has officially opened in China. It stretches 22 kilometers. Built in five years using innovative engineering solutions, the tunnel passes through the Tianshan Mountains at an altitude of approximately 3,000 meters above sea level, in extreme climates where temperatures can drop to -42°C. The tunnel’s opening has reduced travel time between Urumqi and Korla by almost half, to approximately 3.5 hours.

JSC NC Kazakhstan Temir Zholy is piloting the innovative KinetiX rolling stock inspection system at Astana station. The system has already been installed and, according to KTZ’s press service, will be fully operational in the first quarter of 2026. The system’s performance was assessed by the company’s Chairman of the Board, Talgat Aldybergenov, Deputy Chairman of the Board, Murat Toregeldin, and Director of the Transportation Process Directorate branch, Vladimir Petrov, during a visit to Sorokovaya station.

Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan Olzhas Bektenov held a working meeting with Jérôme Boyer, Managing Director of Alstom Kazakhstan, to discuss developing investment cooperation within the framework of the objectives set by the Head of State. The parties discussed the current state and future prospects of cooperation between the state and the company in the field of railway engineering.

Khorgos Gateway, the largest dry port in Central Asia, located in the Khorgos River basin – a tributary of the Ili River, one of the region’s key water supplies – is consistently implementing a large-scale environmental program. All activities are carried out in strict compliance with the laws of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the requirements of the Khorgos-Eastern Gate SEZ. The company emphasizes that environmental protection and the rational use of natural resources are integral to the sustainable development of the logistics hub.

Ocean Network Express (ONE), a container operator founded by Japanese shipping corporations NYK, MOL, and K Line, announced the acquisition of a minority stake in Dalian Container Terminal (DCT) in the Port of Dalian. The size of the stake and financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. ONE emphasized that the investment is strategic and aimed at ensuring sustainable access to key ports in Northeast China.