This news was announced on May 21 at the panel session “Eurasian transport system in the condition of global competition” held at the VII Astana Economic Forum. “At the present time, our company is building 1,200 km of new railways on the territory of Kazakhstan. Until the end of the year, they will be put into operation. 1,000 kilometers of this road is between Zhezkazgan-Beyneu route”, – said President of KTZ Askar Mamin during his speech on a panel session. According to Mr.Mamin, due to this process cargo carriage from the port of Aktau to China will become more comfortable. “Last year the capacity of the transit traffic with China through our territory increased to 20 percent. This will allow us to double the transit through the territory of Kazakhstan by 2020, increase revenues from transit to three times. This will provide an opportunity to create more than 20 million new workplaces”, – added Mr. Mamin.
The participants discussed the issues of historical competition between sea and land, the new revival of the Silk Road, transport and logistics potential of the Eurasian region, capacity development of container transport trains between “China – Europe”, the role of government in the development of transport infrastructure and eliminating physical barriers: international practice and the adoption of measures for the implementation of joint projects in the field of transport logistics, which plays an important role in the development of the national economy. The total investment for the modernization and development of transport infrastructure and logistics of Kazakhstan till 2020 will be about 45 billion U.S. dollars. Head of the Department of Transport and Infrastructure Eurasian Economic Commission Erjan Nurakhmetov noted in his speech the need to create a common transport space, improving the quality of transport services, transport security, reducing the harmful effects of transport on the environment and health, creating a favorable investment conditions, integration of transport systems member states in the global transport system and efficient use of transit potential of Customs Union member states.
Executive supervisor CEO “DPWORLD” Mohammed Sharaf noted promising opportunities in Kazakhstan. According to the expert, with effective use of the hub of the Silk Road can significantly reduce the prices of goods and transport costs.
Recalling that on the 25th meeting of foreign investors (22 May 2012) the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan N.A. Nazarbayev announced the launch of a large-scale project “New Silk Road”.
“Kazakhstan should revive its historical role and become a major business hub in the transit of Central Asian region, become a bridge between Europe and Asia”, – he said. This is the complex hub of key transport corridors of Kazakhstan at international level (trade and logistics, financial, business, innovation and technology and tourism). As a result of this mega-project the volume of transit traffic through Kazakhstan should be increased 2-fold with further increasing to at least 50 million tons by 2020.
President of China Xi Jinping visited Kazakhstan on 6-8 September last year. He said that 3 billion people live in the zone of the “Silk Road “, the local regional market is unprecedented in its scope and potential. He called the parties to remove barriers to facilitate trade and investment.
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