A large transport and logistics
cluster will be created at Kazakhstan’s Aktau and Kuryk ports. The Ministry of
Transport is currently working out a comprehensive plan for a project, which
will allow to increase container capacity and develop cargo transshipment
terminals. The Sarzha multifunctional marine terminal at the Kuryk port can
play a major role in its implementation. While still under construction, the terminal
has already received the first cargo this year. It is expected to be fully
operational in 2025 and increase the throughput capacity of the Trans-Caspian International
Transport Route, also called the Middle Corridor, by 10 million tonnes annually
within five years. Experts believe that the Kuryk port is well-positioned to
become an important link in reconfiguring the chain of transport and logistics
routes.
“Given the current geopolitical
situation, the closest access to open water is the Middle Corridor, which offers
a route for Kazakhstan to export goods to the Caucasian hub, connecting through
Azerbaijan and Georgia to the Black Sea. The access to the latter allows global
logistics operations. The Kuryk port is one of the key links along the route. We
can see a significant increase in freight transportation year after year. So,
for example, last year we doubled our volumes. We will add another 15-20
percent at the end of the year,” said Serik Akhmetov, director-general of the
Kuryk port.
Additionally, it is planned to
increase cargo traffic along the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route
fivefold by 2030. Thus, the potential traffic volume will be increased to 20
million tonnes. Seaports Baku/Alyat, Batumi, Poti, Aktau, and Kuryk are capable
of redirecting about seven million tonnes of cargo to this route.
Editor: Aizhan
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