Kazakhstan, Abu Dhabi Ports discuss fast export route to Gulf countries via Iran

ALMATY. Aug 7 (Interfax) - Kazakhstan has been discussing plans for a joint venture with Abu Dhabi Ports to start direct deliveries of its products to the markets of the Persian Gulf countries through Iran, the government said on Monday.

Deputy Prime Minister - Minister of Trade and Integration Serik Zhumangarin met with Davood Tafti, CEO of Simatech Shipping & Forwarding to discuss a joint venture with AD Ports Group.

"The venture is set to supply agricultural goods from the Kazakh port of Kuryk to the Persian Gulf countries through the ports of Amirabad and Bandar Abbas in Iran in just three days. The new route will pass through the Iranian ports of Amirabad, Bandar Abbas, Bandar Khomeini, Chabahar and UAE ports Khalifa, Fujairah and ports of India, Pakistan, the Far East, the east coast of Africa," the government says.

With the base ports of Kuryk in Kazakhstan and Jabal-Ali in UAE, Simatech Shipping & Forwarding will also involve its two dry ports which will allow Kazakh exporters to shorten delivery times to three days.

In October 2022, the former Kazakh industry minister, Kairbek Uskenbayev invited Abu Dhabi Ports Group to participate in the growth projects of the ports of Aktau and Kuryk and the Aktau Seaport Special Economic Zone.