Ilkhom Makhkamov, Minister of Transport of Uzbekistan, outlined his country’s efforts to enhance regional and interregional transport connectivity at the TIF 2024 Investment Forum in Ashgabat. Makhkamov highlighted several key transport initiatives involving Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Kazakhstan. In order to create the shortest route to the World Ocean for the countries of Central Asia, as […]
Iran’s rail trade with Turkmenistan up 30% at Sarakhs border crossing
1,050,000 tons of goods were transported through Iran’s Sarakhs border crossing with Turkmenistan in the first five months of the current Iranian calendar year (started in March 2024), showing a 30% growth compared with the same period last year, IRNA reports. Nearly 600,000 metric tons of the total foreign trade at the Sarakhs railway border […]
Turkmenistan, Afghanistan sign four documents related to TAPI, TAP, Railways
The Afghan delegation led by the Acting Minister of Mines and Petroleum Products of Afghanistan Hidayatullah Badri, had a meeting on 30 August 2024 in Ashgabat. The Turkmen side was represented by several deputy prime ministers, ministers, and other senior officials. The expanded talks led to the signing of four documents: – Memorandum of Understanding […]
Kazakhstan to Increase Middle Corridor’s Capacity to Ten Million Tons Annually
Saniya Sakenova The Kazakh government is working to implement the Roadmap to eliminate bottlenecks and develop the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR) until 2027 between Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Türkiye and between Kazakhstan and Georgia. This will increase the route’s capacity to ten million tons per year, the Prime Minister’s press service reported on Aug. 27. To […]
China sets 2050 target for world-class aviation hubs
China plans to establish a group of world-class aviation enterprises and hubs by 2050, according to a new guideline released by the Civil Aviation Administration of China and the National Development and Reform Commission. The guideline outlines a three-phase strategy for developing international aviation hubs with milestones set for 2025, 2035 and 2050. By 2025, […]
Warehouse space deficit in Central Asia estimated at 20 million m²
There is an acute shortage of warehouse space in Central Asia, which leads to a situation of zero vacancy in the market. According to Stanislav Akhmedzyanov, Managing Partner of IBC Global, the deficit of modern warehouse facilities in the region is measured in tens of millions of square meters. “If you need a high-quality modern […]
Talks held with the head of the National Logistics Corporation of Pakistan
On 23 August 2024, a meeting was held in the premises of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan between the Minister of Foreign Affairs Rashid Meredov and Farrukh Shahzad Rao, Director General of the National Logistics Corporation of Pakistan. During the meeting, the parties noted that the time-tested Turkmen-Pakistani relations have great potential for […]
Turkmenistan and Iran are preparing to establish joint trade zone
Turkmenistan and Iran are preparing to establish a joint trade zone. It will be located Incheh Borun n the Golistan province of Iran. It is a small town with population of about 2000. Nevertheless, it is strategically important as the Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan-Iran railway line enters Iran at this point. An area of 12577 hectares (about 125 […]
Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan to abolish requirement of permit for road cargo movement between the two countries
Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan are ready to abolish the requirement of permit for the movement of road cargo between the two countries. According to Kazinform, the document on the Open NPA website states that cargo transportation by motor vehicles between states or transit through their territories will be carried out without permission. It should be noted […]
Astrakhan University Ready to Expand Training of Personnel for Water Transport of Turkmenistan
The meeting between the leadership of the Caspian Institute of Sea and River Transport named after General Admiral F. M. Apraksin and representatives of the Agency for Transport and Communications under the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan was devoted to the presentation of the capabilities of the Astrakhan Region for training personnel in the field […]
9 of the world’s 10 busiest ports are in Asia
Arailym Temirgaliyeva From January to July 2024, the volume of cargo and baggage delivered by maritime and coastal routes in Kazakhstan increased by 2.1 times against the same period in 2023 and reached 1.6 million tons. The figure is reported to be the highest within the past five years, Kazinform News Agency learned from Energyprom.kz. […]
Air Cargo Review – Central Asia and Caucasus – Part Four
Turkmenistan Fleet Expansion and Modernization Turkmenistan Airlines has made significant strides in modernizing and expanding its cargo fleet. In March 2023, the airline took delivery of its first Airbus A330-200P2F cargo aircraft, marking Central Asia’s first Passenger-to-Freighter (P2F) converted widebody. This aircraft, registered as EZ-F429, arrived in Ashgabat in May 2023. This acquisition is part of Turkmenistan’s […]
Tajikistan to build railway line up to border with Afghanistan. KOICA of Korea will cooperat
nCa Report Tajikistan is planning to build a railway line to its border with Afghanistan. The ministry of transport of Tajikistan and the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) have signed a protocol of negotiations on the development of a feasibility study (TES) for the Jaloliddini railway project Balkhi-Nizhny Pyanj. As reported by Asia Plus, “The […]
How will the construction of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway affect the transport connectivity of Central Asia?
The launch of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway, the construction of which will start in October 2024, will strengthen transport connectivity in Central Asia and increase the transit attractiveness of the region, believes Uzbek expert Nargiza Umarova. Growing geopolitical tensions in the world threaten the security of traditional sea routes on the one hand, and stimulate the […]
Air Cargo Review – Central Asia and Caucasus – Part Two
Uzbekistan 1.1 Overview and Statistics Uzbekistan’s air cargo sector has seen substantial growth and development in recent years. In 2022, Uzbekistan’s airports processed 80,100 metric tons of cargo and mail, a 62% increase compared to pre-COVID 2019 levels. For 2023, a further 19% increase in freight volume was planned, targeting 95,300 metric tons. This growth […]
Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan are interested in developing the eastern branch of the North-South corridor
Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan Serik Zhumangarin and Director General of the Agency for Transport and Communications under the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan Mammetkhan Chakiyev held a bilateral meeting in Astana. The sides discussed prospects for cooperation in the transport sector. Both countries are actively cooperating in the development of the […]
Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan could make efforts to link the transport systems of Central Asia, China, Europe, the Middle East, says President Serdar Berdimuhamedov
Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan could make efforts to create the necessary conditions for the linking the transport systems of Central Asia, China, Europe, the Middle East, President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov said during a meeting with President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev in Astana, Friday, 9 August. In this regard, the relevance of the China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan–Turkmenistan transport route […]
Turkmenistan is building up the potential of transport diplomacy and transit highways
TDH Commentary The sphere of transport and communications is the most important component of the economy of any nation. The dynamics of its development largely determines the dynamics of the development of the whole country. In turn, one of the integral components of the transport infrastructure is the freight and passenger transportation service, which is […]
Record-Breaking Cargo Delivery on China-Kazakhstan-Uzbekistan Route
A container train recently completed the 4,486-kilometer journey from China to Uzbekistan via Kazakhstan in a record-breaking five days, Kazinform reports. Departing from the Kazakh-Chinese terminal in Xi’an, China, the train traversed the Kazakhstan Railways network to the Saryagash border station before reaching its final destination, Tashkent, a major Central Asian transportation hub. The expedited […]
India-Uzbekistan Container Service Launched via Turkmenistan
Turkmenistan’s Transport and Logistics Center (TULM) has successfully launched the first container train service between India and Uzbekistan. The inaugural train, carrying 20 TEU containers of ceramic tiles, departed from Iran’s Bandar Abbas port and is currently en route to Chukursai railway station in Uzbekistan via Turkmenistan’s Sarakhs. At Sarakhs, cargo is being transferred from […]
China, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Iran Develop New Transport Route
JSC “Transport and Logistics Center of Turkmenistan” (TULM) and Kazakhstani logistics company JSC “KTZ Express” have successfully piloted a new container train route connecting China, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and Iran. The inaugural train, carrying 45 forty-foot containers of auto parts, traversed the route from Xi’an (China) to Tehran (Iran) via Altynkol and Bolashak (Kazakhstan) and Etrek […]
The trilateral Working group between Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan is actively continuing its work to achieve common goals in regional development in the Caspian Sea
On July 24, 2024, the second Meeting of the trilateral Working Group on Improving Connectivity in the Caspian Sea was held in the online format. During the meeting of the Working Group, the draft Action Plan was thoroughly reviewed by representatives of the Parties, new wordings of the paragraphs have been proposed. At the same […]
Launch of ePacket CAINIAO in Kazakhstan is a major step in E-commerce
nCa Report The official ceremony of launching the ePacket CAINIAO postal channel to Kazakhstan recently took place at the Khorgos Dry Port International Logistics Park. ePacket Plus is an advanced logistics service specially designed to track and deliver parcels from Chinese trading platforms to Kazakhstan. This service meets modern logistics standards and is aimed at […]
Does Uzbekistan need transit integration?
For the Central Asian states, the issue of direct participation in international transit cargo transportation is becoming relevant. Integration into the global transport network allows not only to expand the market for export products abroad, but also to join the intermediate trade turnover between countries and receive bonuses for the transit of goods through their […]
Iran-China freight train relaunched
Iran-China freight train was relaunched at Aprin dry port, in Eslamshahr county, southwest of Tehran city, on Sunday (21 Jul). Relaunching this train was simultaneous with launching first phase of the China-Europe rail corridor, in a ceremony attended by Miad Salehi, the head of the Islamic Republic of Iran Railways (known as RAI), as well […]
Kazakhstan to Repair Road to Turkmenistan Border
The Ministry of Transport of Kazakhstan is planning to repair a 229-kilometer highway leading from Zhanaozen to Kenderli and onward to the border with Turkmenistan. This project aims to improve transportation infrastructure and boost the tourism potential of the Mangystau region, particularly the resort village of Kenderli, according to the ministry. The existing road belongs […]
The capacity of the eastern direction of the North-South transport corridor through Kazakhstan will increase to 10 million tons per year
“In whatever country the International North–South Transport Corridor begins and ends, almost all of its routes run through Kazakhstan,” Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Serik Zhumangarin said during his remarks at the opening of the first transport trade and export forum “North-South” in Aktau. According to him, by 2027, the capacity of the eastern direction […]
Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Afghanistan discussed the construction of a new railway line – Turkmenistan will soon begin construction of a logistics center in Torghundi
A trilateral meeting of representatives of Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Afghanistan took place on the sidelines of the first transport trade and export forum in Aktau. The parties discussed the possibility of building a new railway line Torghundi – Herat – Kandahar – Spin-Buldak, which will run from the western border of Turkmenistan through Afghanistan to […]
Kazakhstan, Iran, Turkmenistan, and Russia Sign Roadmap for North-South Transport Corridor
Kazakhstan, Iran, Turkmenistan, and Russia have signed a Roadmap for the synchronous development of the potential of the eastern route of the North-South transport corridor for 2024-2025, according to the Ministry of Transport of Kazakhstan. The implementation of this document by 2027 will increase the capacity of the corridor to 15 million tons per year, […]
Chinese freight train to enter Iran from Turkmenistan: envoy
The Iranian envoy to China has said that a Chinese transit train will enter Iran from Incheh Borun Crossing after crossing Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan. Mohsen Bakhtiar, Iran’s ambassador to China, wrote on the X social network that “In continuation of the efforts of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran to strengthen the transit […]
Afghanistan Sees Exports to Central Asia Surge Through Torghundi Port
Afghan officials report a significant rise in exports to Central Asian nations, particularly Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan, via Herat’s Torghundi dry port, according to the official Afghan news agency Alemarah. The export volume has doubled compared to the previous year, officials say. Last year, an average of 15 trucks carrying Afghan goods crossed the port […]
Kazakhstan invites Turkmen exporters and business representatives to the North-South Transport Forum
Exporters and business representatives from Turkmenistan are invited to the North-South Transport Trade and Export Forum, which will be held on 19-20 July 2024 in Aktau under the chairmanship of Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan S.M. Zhumangarin. The event will be organized by the Ministry of Transport of the Republic of Kazakhstan. […]
Logistics Company from Chinese Shandong Seeks Partnership with Turkmenistan
A recent meeting in Ashgabat explored potential collaboration between Turkmenistan’s logistics sector and one of the major players of transport sector from China. Representatives from the Turkmen Association of Transport and Logistics Companies (“Turkmen logistika”) met with officials from Shandong Hi-Speed Qilu Eurasia Railway Logistics Co., a leading logistics operator in China’s Shandong Province. The […]
Tokyo-Osaka Logistics Tunnel is not replicable in Central Asia but it encourages the quest for out of the box solutions
nCa Commentary Japan is planning to build the Tokyo-Osaka Logistics Tunnel, a nearly 500km network of hi-tech, automated conveyor belts – called the Autoflow-Road – to transport goods It will be a zero-emissions solution for moving the cargo between the two major cities of Japan. It will also replace 25000 trucks. Apart from ecological concerns […]
China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway Project Reaches Implementation Stage – Part Two
nCa Report Jogorku Kenesh, the parliament of Kyrgyzstan, passed on 19 June 2024 the bill to approve the construction of the CKU (China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway line project). The adoption of the bill clears the way for the start of construction of the railway line. The Deputy Minister of Transport and Communications, Yrysbek Bariev, said, “This route […]
China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway Project Reaches Implementation Stage – Part One
nCa Report The Chin-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan (CKU) railway project has reached the implementation stage. The construction work is expected to start any time between August and October this year. A ceremony was held in Beijing on 6 June 2024 to sign an agreement on the construction of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway. The agreement was signed by the heads […]
Ulyanovsk Region intends to reach the Persian Gulf and South Asia through Turkmenistan
The Ulyanovsk region of Russia eyes on a new trade route reaching the Persian Gulf and South Asia, with Turkmenistan as the key link. This ambitious plan is evidenced by the development of a new Ulyanovsk-Ashgabat-Incheh Boroun/Serakhs block train route, a collaborative effort between Russian and Turkmen specialists within the East Caspian railway corridor. The […]
Iran anticipates Turkmen Sulfur Transit via New Caspian Railway
Iranian authorities have announced plans to commence the transit of sulfur from Turkmenistan via the recently inaugurated Rasht-Caspian Port railway. This new route, operational since 20 June, signifies a significant step forward in regional connectivity. The 37-kilometer Rasht-Caspian railway connects the city of Rasht to the Caspian Sea port of Caspian in Enzeli. This section […]
From East to West and from North to South: The Future of the Eurasian Transport Network
The EDB has identified ten systemic elements of the Eurasian Transport Network Concept. This concept aims to establish and enhance sustainable, accessible and efficient transport links across Eurasia. The concept is detailed in a report that reviews the current situation, provides development projections for five key transport corridors in Eurasia and presents key projects and […]
IRU says Southern Corridor experiences boost in freight volumes
The southern branch of the east-west corridor offers unparalleled connectivity. A 20-day road transport operation is a recent example of that. Goods were transported by road from Shanghai, under the TIR system, to the Armenian capital of Yerevan in just 20 days. The truck exited China from the Khorgos border crossing between China and Kazakhstan, […]
Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan Eye Diversification of Middle Corridor
Chairman Rovshan Rustamov of Azerbaijan Railways CJSC met with his counterpart, Chairman of the Turkmen Railways Agency Azat Atamuradov, and a high-level delegation from the Turkmen Marine and River Ways agency (Turkmendenizderyayollary) during a recent working visit to Ashgabat. Discussions focused on strengthening railway cooperation between the two countries, with an aim to increase cargo […]
New Trade Route Opens: Kazakhstan to UAE via Afghanistan and Pakistan
A landmark pilot project has successfully completed a new multimodal transportation route from Kazakhstan to the United Arab Emirates (UAE). KTZ Express JSC, QazTrade JSC, and their Pakistani partner, National Logistics Corporation (NLC), collaborated to deliver cargo from Kazakhstan to Jebel Ali port in the UAE via Afghanistan and Pakistan. This route offers a fresh […]
State Customs Service of Turkmenistan announces the possibility of preliminary electronic notification of goods imported into the country
The State Customs Service of Turkmenistan announced a new initiative to simplify import procedures. Effective 1 June 2024, carriers and interested parties can submit preliminary electronic information about goods destined for Turkmenistan before their physical arrival. Preliminary electronic information can be submitted to Customs authorities through: • the ASYCUDA World Customs information system • the […]
Caspian-Black Sea Corridor Agreement Nears Completion, Signing Expected in September 2024
A quadrilateral intergovernmental agreement to establish the Caspian Sea-Black Sea international transport corridor is nearing finalization, with a potential signing ceremony planned for September 2024 in Bucharest, Romania. This statement follows an online meeting held on 30 May 2024, to discuss the draft agreement, according to the Turkmen Agency of Maritime and River Transport (“Turkmendenizderyaellary”). […]
Chinese trucks cross Caspian Sea in Middle Corridor TIR pilot
The three TIR trucks departed from China’s inland cities of Zhengzhou and Urumqi, before exiting China via the Khorgos-Nur Zholy border crossing. After crossing the Caspian Sea by ferry, the trucks reached their destinations in Azerbaijan and Georgia. The 6,600km journey took two weeks. This is the first time that Chinese trucking companies have taken […]
First TIR logistics hub opens in Western China in boost to pan-Asian trade
A new TIR logistics hub accredited by IRU, the first-of-its-kind, was inaugurated yesterday in Kashgar, China, a major city and trade gateway in the western region of Xinjiang, close to Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan and Tajikistan. The unique facility brings together all essential transit services under one roof: customs clearance, warehousing, cargo handling, route development, and transport […]
Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan See Continued Growth in Cargo Transport
Turkmenistan is one of the most important trade partners of Uzbekistan and plays an important role in transporting the country’s foreign trade goods abroad via the southern route, the Ministry of Transport of Uzbekistan said in a comment. In particular, for commercial purposes, transit goods to a third country are transported by roads and railways […]
“Black Sea – Caspian Sea”: unlimited opportunities for friendship and partnership
Konstantin Sabiashvili, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Georgia to Turkmenistan This year, on May 26, Georgia celebrates the 33rd anniversary of the restoration of state independence. For centuries, the Georgian people have tirelessly fought for independence and the right to determine their own destiny. As you know, Georgian statehood dates back more than three thousand […]
CIS Approves Action Plan for Enhanced International Transport Corridors
The action plan for optimizing infrastructure and developing international transport corridors passing through the territories of the CIS member states for the period up to 2030 was approved at a meeting of the Council of Heads of Government of the Commonwealth of Independent States held in Ashgabat on 24 May 2024. The action plan aims […]
Washington D.C. Hosts Annual Trans-Caspian Forum, Outlines Challenges
Assel Satubaldina The Caspian Policy Center organized the eighth Annual Trans-Caspian Forum on May 21 in Washington, D.C., to discuss the current challenges and prospects for a multi-modal Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR) to maximize its capacity. From L to R: Tamar Satterwhite from the Commercial Law Development Program; Winnie Wang from the World Bank; […]