Kazakhstan’s President, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, highlighted the pivotal role of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) in connecting the entire Eurasian region during a meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council. Emphasizing the development focus on the North-South corridor, providing access to the Middle East, Iran, Pakistan, and India, President Tokayev welcomed the practical implementation of the Kazakh initiative to establish the Chelyabinsk – Bolasak – Iran route. Kazakhstan is prepared to upgrade key rail and road networks, including the Beineu – Mangystau, Makat – Kandagash railways, and the Beineu – Shalkar road section.
President Tokayev announced the establishment of a joint venture involving logistics companies from Kazakhstan, Russia, and Turkmenistan to further develop the corridor. Kazakhstan is actively enhancing the transport and logistics framework of the EAEU, completing construction on Kazakh terminals in Xi’an and the Georgian port of Poti. Plans include launching five transboundary transport and logistics hubs on borders with Russia, China, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and the Caspian Sea. Kazakhstan aims to build 1,300 kilometers of new railway tracks, along with dry ports in Bakhty and Kalzhat, and a maritime port in the Iranian Bandar Abbas.
Calling for collaboration on mutually beneficial projects, including major strategic ports, logistics centers, and postal hubs, President Tokayev invited EAEU countries to participate. The International North–South Transport Corridor (INSTC), a 7,200-km multi-mode network, aims to enhance trade connectivity between major cities, spanning India, Iran, Azerbaijan, Russia, Central Asia, and Europe. The corridor facilitates freight movement through ship, rail, and road, connecting cities such as Mumbai, Moscow, Tehran, Baku, Bandar Abbas, Astrakhan, and Anzali.
Image source: https://en.trend.az/casia/kazakhstan/3842089.html