ASTANA – Regional business leaders discussed developing transport and logistic systems on Eurasian transcontinental routes during the June 15 New Silk Way international transport and logistics business forum in Astana. The gathering was part of the 10th Astana Economic Forum.
Photo credit: ratel.kz
Participants discussed global economic trends, European and Asian markets in terms of the development of transcontinental routes, improvement of the efficiency of multimodal transport, the role of interstate cooperation on development of international transport corridors, and the application of innovative solutions to regional transport and logistics infrastructure.
Kazakh First Deputy Prime Minister Askar Mamin, Foreign Minister Kairat Abdrakhmanov, Minister for Investments and Development Zhenis Kassymbek, top managers of transport and logistics companies of China, the United Arab Emirates, Russia, Iran, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Lithuania, Moldova, Ukraine, Poland, as well as representatives of banking and expert circles attended the event.
“Kazakhstan is actively working to integrate the transport network into the Eurasian transport system and making a significant contribution to its development,” Mamin said.
According to the report, the development of modernisation of the transport and logistics infrastructure of the trans-Kazakhstan routes are done as part of the Nurly Zhol and Plan of the Nation 100 concrete steps programmes.
“The railroads, highways and air routes laying across the territory of Kazakhstan form effective transcontinental corridors from Asia to Russia, Europe, Central Asia, the Caucasus and the Persian Gulf,” Mamin said, adding that in a short period of time East-West container traffic has increased, cargo flows have been reoriented and the new routes have been opened.
Mamin noted the World Economic Forum ranks Kazakhstan 26th out of 136 countries in quality of railroad infrastructure.
The event also included presentations by Chief Executive Officer of DP World Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, CEO of Azerbaijan Railways Javid Qurbanov, CEO of Georgian Railways Mamuka Bakhtadze, Mayor of Chengdu sub-provincial city Luo Qiang, First Vice President of Russian Railways Alexander Misharin and others.
