Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, UAE to develop Trans-Afghan transport corridor jointly

ASTANA. Oct 1 (Interfax) - The transport ministries of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan and the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have signed a memorandum of understanding to cooperate on the Kazakhstan-Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan railway project, Central Asia-South Asia (CASA), which would give the region access to Pakistani seaports, the Kazakh government's press service said.

The CASA project envisages a new railway route linking Central and South Asia and creating new opportunities for international transport, trade, logistics and investment cooperation.

"Under the memorandum, the sides intend to conduct technical and economic studies and analytical assessments, and examine the feasibility of developing the necessary railway infrastructure and related facilities," according to the statement.

The signatories also plan to set up a working group to comprehensively address the project's technical, economic and financial aspects.

"Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan have well-developed railway infrastructure and significant transit potential. The UAE has international expertise in transport infrastructure, logistics and implementing major investment projects. Combining these capabilities will allow the sides to move to practical work on the CASA project and determine the optimal mechanisms for its implementation," according to the press release.

The Central Asia-South Asia Trans-Afghan transport corridor can carry up to 10 million tonnes of cargo toward the Pakistani ports of Karachi and Gwadar.

Kazakhstan has said it is ready to join Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan in building railways through the Afghan towns of Mazar-i-Sharif and Turgundi to Herat.