Transport sector must become a driver of Kazakhstan's development - Tokayev

ASTANA. Sept 1 (Interfax) - Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has asked for a plan for the development of maritime infrastructure to be drafted and for the Transport Ministry to be reinstated

"We should reinstate the Ministry of Transport, which will also be responsible for road construction," Tokayev said in his state of the nation address on Friday.

The president said that Kazakhstan should strengthen its position as the key transit hub in Eurasia and become a strong transport and logistics center in the long run.

"To support dynamic development of this sector is our strategic goal. The share of the transport and logistics sector in GDP should reach at least 9% in the next three years," Tokayev said.

At the moment, Kazakhstan has a transport committee, which is part of the Ministry of Industry and Infrastructure Development.

The port of Kuryk has the potential to become a fully developed logistics cluster similar to the port of Aktau, Tokayev said.

"We need a comprehensive plan for the development of marine infrastructure. A special role should be assigned to the port of Kuryk, which will become a full-fledged logistics cluster similar to Aktau," he said.

The port of Kuryk, located 90 km from the regional center of Aktau in western Kazakhstan, has a ferry complex (with railway and car berths) and is focused on the transshipment of grain, oil products, fertilizers, chemicals and a number of other cargoes. The design capacity of the port is 6 million tonnes of cargo per year.

Tokayev highlighted the importance of the North-South international corridor, which provides access to the Persian Gulf ports for Kazakhstan. "There are plans to double the railway capacity of this route," including the modernization of the Kazakh section of the Bolashak-Chelyabinsk railway line, which should come first.

To effectively integrate into international trade routes, the president noted, it is crucial to provide comprehensive logistics services. The airports in Astana, Almaty, Shymkent and Aktobe must operate as multimodal centers that offer competitive and high-quality services for handling and distribution of cargo.

"In general, appropriate tariff and regulatory policies are needed to support the industry's development, along with active private investment," he said.

Tokayev emphasized the need to fully unlock the country's transport and logistics potential.

"Kazakhstan's strategic location at the crossroads of the North and South, West and East, provides the country with a significant advantage and opens up a broad range of prospects. The transport and logistics industry is expected to become a driving force behind the country's economic development," Tokayev said.

In the midst of intense competition, the country must efficiently tackle the crucial challenges faced by the industry. The president suggested that several major railway projects, including Dostyk-Moiynty, Bakhty-Ayagoz, Darbaza-Maktaaral, and the Almaty bypass line, should be completed.

Tokayev said Kazakhstan would continue to cooperate with Russia and China in the transportation sector. "The traffic via the Trans-Caspian route can be increased fivefold in the medium term. To achieve this, Kazakhstan needs to collaborate with partner countries such as China, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Turkey," Tokayev said.

Tokayev highlighted the need to construct a new "dry port" at the Bakhty crossing, speed up the development of a container hub in Aktau, and broaden port facilities on the Black Sea through the Middle Corridor.

"Constructive and good relations with all neighboring countries, including Russia, China, and our neighbors in Central and South Asia, are key to tap our country's transport potential," he said.

The Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR) is an international transport corridor that runs through China, Kazakhstan, the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and further to Turkey and European countries. Freight haulage along the route could grow 17.6% in 2023 compared with 2022 and reach 10 million tonnes by 2025.