Central Asia

In Astana, on the sidelines of a meeting of the Organization for Cooperation of Railways, a working meeting took place between Talgat Aldybergenov, Chairman of the Management Board of KTZ, and Sahebzada Mawlawi Muhammad Ishaq, Afghanistan’s Deputy Minister of Public Works for Railway Transport. The parties discussed prospects for bilateral cooperation in the fields of freight transportation and infrastructure development.

Chinese shipbuilding companies have unveiled the world’s largest container ship featuring a fully electric propulsion system. Designed to carry 742 TEU, the new vessel marks a significant step forward in the development of eco-friendly fleets for coastal shipping.

OOCL has announced the launch of a new service, the China Indonesia Service (CIS3), which will strengthen the coverage of the carrier’s intra-Asia network and enhance connectivity between ports in South China and key ports in Indonesia.

At a government meeting, Kazakh Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov noted the positive dynamics in the transport sector, emphasizing the need for further systematic expansion of rail network capacity. He stated that the key objective remains the implementation of major strategic projects aimed at modernizing infrastructure.

At a meeting of the Public Council at Samruk-Kazyna, the implementation of artificial intelligence technologies in portfolio companies was reviewed, with a focus on logistics and projects of Kazakhstan Temir Zholy National Company. This work is being carried out in accordance with the President’s directive of April 30, 2024, to integrate basic AI elements into the real sector. Sixty-two AI projects are already being implemented in the energy, oil and gas, transport, and telecommunications sectors, with the key goal of increasing efficiency, operational transparency, and reducing losses.

A delegation from Port Kuryk LLP, led by CEO Erkin Nygmetov, visited the Port of Shanghai to study best practices in port infrastructure development and digital transformation. The main goal of the visit was to learn about modern approaches to terminal management and the integration of digital solutions into logistics processes.

In January-February 2026, container rail traffic between China and the EU reached 352,000 TEU, a 25% increase compared to the same period in 2025. The number of freight trains on China-Europe routes increased by 32% during this period, reaching 3,501 trips.

A meeting of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) was held in Shymkent under Kazakhstan’s chairmanship. Key topics included the digitalization of logistics and the implementation of artificial intelligence technologies in the transportation process. Participants focused on improving the efficiency of freight transportation and unlocking the union’s transit potential across Eurasia.

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.