ASTANA — Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have agreed to jointly study a new railway route connecting Central Asia with Pakistan’s seaports, the Prime Minister’s press service reported on Sept. 30.
Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to study the development of a new railway route connecting Central Asia with Pakistan’s sea ports. Photo credit: PM’s press service.
The transport ministries of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan and the UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation under the CASA railway project.
The proposed Kazakhstan–Uzbekistan–Afghanistan–Pakistan (CASA) railway would create a new transport link between Central and South Asia, potentially opening additional opportunities for international freight, trade, logistics and investment cooperation.
Feasibility studies planned
Under the memorandum, the three countries intend to conduct technical and economic studies and analytical assessments of the project. They will also examine the feasibility of developing the required railway infrastructure and related facilities.
The initiative brings together the existing railway infrastructure and transit potential of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan with the UAE’s experience in transport infrastructure, logistics and large-scale investment projects.
The parties said the cooperation is intended to move the CASA project toward practical development and help determine the most suitable implementation mechanisms. They also discussed establishing a joint working group to comprehensively examine the project’s technical, economic and financial aspects and coordinate further steps.
