Cargo transportation grows in Kazakhstan

The freight traffic volume is growing in Kazakhstan. In January and February of this year, the figures for rail transport increased by 10 percent to over 70 million tonnes, with transit transport rising by 20 percent, and container transport by 12 percent, Kazakh Minister of Industry and Infrastructure Development Kairbek Uskenbayev said at the Government’s meeting. And this trend is expected to continue. The relevant ministry plans to increase the figures at least five times.

“This year, we are faced with the task of bringing the volume of cargo transportation by rail to 420 million tonnes, transit traffic to 24.5 million tonnes and transit of containers up to 1,100 thousandths TEU. To date, about 90 percent of transit cargo is transported by rail. The key quantitative indicator of development of transit and transport potential of our country was determined within the national project ‘Strong regions - drivers of the country's development,” said Kairbek Uskenbayev, Kazakh Minister of Industry and Infrastructure Development.

According to Uskenbayev, the task until 2025 is to bring the volume of transit traffic to 30 million tonnes. But it is necessary to start now. Thus, in order to implement large-scale plans, Kazakhstan will build railway infrastructure, upgrade rolling stock, and develop alternative routes and international corridors. The minister also added that this year the national rail operator Kazakhstan Temir Zholy plans to purchase 1,500 freight cars. Moreover, as part of increasing the volume of sea freight, in particular the one along the Trans-Caspian international route, it is planned to create a ‘container hub’ on the basis of the Aktau Seaport Special Economic Zone, and also replenish the merchant fleet with new ferries and much more.

 

Translation by Assem Zhanmukhanova

Editing by Saule Mukhamejanova