Kazakh and Chinese Businesses Forge Trade Partnerships at Astana Export Forum
Astana, The Gulf Observer: The Forum of Kazakh Exporters in Astana served as a dynamic platform for Kazakh and Chinese businesses to engage in pivotal discussions regarding trade collaboration and export channels between the two countries. Hosted on March 26, the event witnessed insightful deliberations aimed at leveraging Kazakhstan’s strategic geo-economic position to foster mutually beneficial trade relations.
Kazakhstan’s strategic location at the crossroads of major trade routes underscores its significance as a burgeoning hub for international commerce. Highlighting the nation’s pivotal role in global trade centers, Kazakhstan’s Vice Minister of Transport, Maksat Kaliakparov, emphasized the burgeoning volume of rail freight transportation between Kazakhstan and China, which exceeded 28 million tons by the end of 2023. Notably, transit volumes surged to 2.2 million tons, marking a significant uptick from previous years.
Underscoring Kazakhstan’s commitment to bolstering its transport infrastructure, Kaliakparov outlined plans for the completion of a container hub at the port of Aktau, poised to substantially enhance throughput capacity to 300,000 twenty-foot equivalent units annually. Additionally, Kazakhstan aims to bolster its transport and logistics capabilities by establishing approximately 65 new centers by 2025, supplementing the existing network of 170 centers.
Aibek Kapar, Deputy General Director for Logistics at Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ), shed light on the nation’s strategic trade corridors, emphasizing the continued significance of continental transit along the China-Europe-China route. Kapar outlined the potential of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, or the Middle Corridor and the Northern Corridor, as promising avenues for Kazakhstan’s transit development. Moreover, he underscored the eastern North-South direction as a lucrative pathway for transporting Kazakh products to diverse markets, including Iran, India, the Persian Gulf, and North Africa.
In alignment with Kazakhstan’s efforts to enhance export access, KTZ is poised to construct new railway lines and border crossings to alleviate congestion and streamline trade operations. Su Yu, Counselor for Trade and Economic Issues of the Embassy of China in Kazakhstan, reaffirmed China’s commitment to deepening economic ties with Kazakhstan. Notably, he emphasized China’s readiness to collaborate within the framework of the One Belt—One Road initiative, while also exploring opportunities in the electronics industry.
The Forum of Kazakh Exporters served as a testament to the unwavering commitment of Kazakhstan and China to foster robust trade partnerships, capitalizing on synergies and shared economic interests for mutual prosperity.
