Marat Akbol, CEO of SKYVISION, spoke about key aspects, starting with the role of Kazakhstan in logistics between China and the TIM countries, then moved on to the problems and challenges that they face and possible ways to solve them.
Historically, cargo flows from China to Europe and TIM countries passed through Kazakhstan, making it the main center of trade. However, in the subsequent development of digital trade, many restrictions were lifted, which facilitated direct trade between European and CIS consumers with Chinese producers. In this regard, problems arose at the border of Kazakhstan and within the country, including language and cultural barriers, as well as problems in the field of warehouse logistics and delivery of goods to consumers.
“By analyzing the main terminals and warehouses in various regions of Kazakhstan, we discovered problems such as the lack of a full-fledged storage and delivery service for goods, a lack of warehouse space and a slowdown in delivery speed. These factors complicate internal logistics and slow down technological work processes,” shared Marat Akbol.
Issues related to the transportation of goods through Kazakhstan are important. It is especially important to understand that many goods from China destined for Europe and TIM countries pass through Kazakhstan, making it a key trading center. Due to post-pandemic restrictions, container shipping has become the main mode of transport, especially in the Almaty region. However, an imbalance in the distribution of containers leads to congestion and increased transportation costs.
To solve these problems, infrastructure is needed in the form of container terminals outside the cities along the entire route through Kazakhstan. This will increase the speed of transportation and ensure more efficient distribution of cargo. Container terminals should operate as transit hubs, as well as provide warehouse and railway infrastructure for storage, consolidation and distribution of cargo.
In addition, it is necessary to organize common platforms for discussing problems and joint work of government bodies and companies. This will improve transportation conditions and promote the development of trade relations. Such efforts can also provide incentives to invest in logistics infrastructure development.
Skyvision is actively involved in the implementation of Kazakh-Chinese projects and provides a wide range of information services to its partners. They also initiate cooperation projects and platforms for the exchange of experience on a pro bono basis, which reflects their civic position and desire to improve the logistics infrastructure in the region.
Skyvision, in an effort to optimize the cost of services and establish regularity of transportation, has entered into memorandums of cooperation with major partners. Among them is the Eastcomtrans company, one of the largest private operators in Kazakhstan. Thanks to this cooperation, a new transport and logistics center “Zhetygen” will begin operating in the Almaty region. It will carry out transshipment, calibration and formation of container trains sent from the Zhetygen station to the People’s Republic of China.
As part of the development of warehouse logistics and provision of storage and consolidation of imported goods, the company, together with the Chinese state corporation Shijajuang International Land Port Construction and Development Group, signed a memorandum on the construction of its own terminal in the Almaty region.