Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev is consistently strengthening the country’s position as a transport and logistics hub in Eurasia.
“Airports, railway stations, bridges and seaports are being built and modernised, and border infrastructure is being upgraded. This is important work, and it will continue,” said the Head of State at a ceremony marking Republic Day.
One area of focus in this work is the development of transport links with South Asia. Kazakhstan is developing a new rail route through Uzbekistan and Afghanistan to the seaports of Pakistan, which could complement the country’s existing transport corridors and expand access to international markets.
On 30 September, the Ministries of Transport of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan and the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure of the UAE signed a memorandum of cooperation on the CASA (Kazakhstan–Uzbekistan–Afghanistan–Pakistan) route project. The parties intend to carry out technical and economic studies, as well as assess the feasibility of developing the necessary railway infrastructure. In addition, the establishment of a working group on technical, economic and financial issues is being considered.
According to the participants’ plans, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan could utilise their railway infrastructure and transit capacity, whilst the UAE would contribute its expertise in the development of transport infrastructure, logistics and the implementation of major investment projects.
The cost and timeframe for implementing CASA have not yet been determined, as the project is currently at the feasibility study stage. The prospects for the route will depend on its economic viability, the availability of sufficient freight volumes, funding and transit conditions. Security issues along the Afghan section and the coordination of transport conditions with all countries along the route will also be of significant importance.
