Central Asia

Marat Shakenov, Deputy Chairman of the Board of Kazakhstan Temir Zholy, spoke at the plenary session of the sixth meeting of the heads of railway administrations of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization member states. During the discussion, he noted that the SCO meetings have become an effective platform for analyzing joint efforts and developing new steps to develop transport links across the Eurasian region. He stated that the development of rail transportation remains a priority in Kazakhstan’s transport policy, aimed at unlocking the country’s transit potential.

MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company announced a major upgrade to its shipping network between Asia and Northern Europe, strengthening direct port connections, optimizing transit times, and expanding market coverage. The changes will affect the company’s three key services – Griffin, Condor, and Silk. The updated rotations will begin in late March – early April 2026 and are aimed at improving shipping efficiency on one of the world’s busiest trade routes.

During a working visit to the Darbaza-Maktaaral line under construction, Kazakhstan Railways Chairman Talgat Aldybergenov met with Uzbekistan Railways President Zufar Narzullaev. The talks at Maktaaral station focused on freight traffic results and coordination of border rail infrastructure development between the two countries.

During a working visit to China, Talgat Aldybergenov, Chairman of the Board of Kazakhstan Railways (Kazakhstan Temir Zholy), held talks with the management of China Railway Container Transport (CRCT). The meeting focused on strengthening transport and logistics cooperation and developing a strategic partnership between the railway administrations of Kazakhstan and China.

China-Europe Railway Express operated 3,501 freight trains in the first two months of 2026, carrying 352,000 TEU, according to China State Railway Group.

The Kazakh government has adopted a resolution expanding the Aktau Seaport Special Economic Zone to 10,000 hectares by annexing additional land parcels totaling 569.61 hectares. This decision aims to strengthen the transport and logistics potential of the Mangystau Region and further develop port infrastructure on the Caspian Sea.

On March 11, 2026, MEDLOG, part of the MSC Group, and China Master Logistics (CMLOG), a Chinese logistics company, announced the launch of a new joint venture with a network of five cold storage facilities in Shanghai, Tianqing, and Ningbo. The new facility is the third and largest in the joint network of cold storage facilities, supporting MEDLOG’s strategic expansion in the cold chain segment along China’s coastline and growing demand for imported frozen and perishable goods.

During his working visit to China, Talgat Aldybergenov, Chairman of the Board of JSC NC Kazakhstan Temir Zholy, visited the Shenzhen Bureau of Transport and held a series of meetings with Huawei Technologies executives. During the talks, he met with Liang Hua, Chairman of the Board of Directors, and Zuo Meng, President of the Smart Railway Division, to discuss the further development of their technological partnership.

On March 16, 2026, a meeting of the Railway Transport Subcommittee of the Logistics and Transportation Committee of the Presidium of the Atameken National Chamber of Entrepreneurs of the Republic of Kazakhstan was held in Astana. Representatives of government agencies, businesses, and industry associations participated. The meeting, held in a mixed format, focused on key issues related to the development of Kazakhstan’s railway industry.

The heads of JSC NC Kazakhstan Temir Zholy, CJSC Azerbaijan Railways, and JSC Georgian Railways held a working meeting on the development of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR). The parties discussed measures to improve the corridor’s competitiveness, eliminate infrastructure bottlenecks, and upgrade rolling stock. By the end of 2025, traffic volume along the route had increased by 15% to 42,000 TEUs, with special attention paid to digitalization and the integration of information systems to expedite freight transit.