Kazakhstan could invest further $20 bln in transport, urges Turkic countries to develop logistics
ASTANA. Nov 11 (Interfax) - Kazakhstan could invest a further $20 billion in transport and has urged Turkic countries to develop logistics.
"In the current transition period, it is very important to increase the potential of transport and transit and use their capabilities to the utmost. A good example to mention here is the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), which runs through the territories of three fraternal states: Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Turkey. That is why, we consider it our priority to further develop the transportation, warehousing and distribution industry," Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said at the Summit of the Organization of Turkic States in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, on Friday.
In the past 15 years, Kazakhstan has invested $35 billion in this sector, according to Tokayev. The republic is interested in diversification of transport routes and development of warehousing and distribution services. For these purposes, Kazakhstan will invest another $20 billion in the industry by 2025, the president said.
"Development of internal transport and transit routes between the Turkic states is also of great importance. Taking this opportunity, I would like to draw your attention to this aspect. It seems expedient to further expand our transit and export capabilities. It is also necessary to modernize our border checkpoints," Tokayev said.
Additional measures should be taken to develop alternative routes for transportation by rail and motor road, according to the Kazakh president.
"It is extremely important to create a "digital transport system" that would optimize cargo clearance procedures, facilitate the exchange of shipping documentation and provide additional opportunities to enter the international markets," Tokayev said.
TITR is an international transport corridor that runs through China, Kazakhstan, the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and further to Turkey and European countries. The Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway is part of the corridor.