Kazakhstan is positioning the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), also known as the Middle Corridor, as a cornerstone of sustainable logistics across Eurasia. Speaking at a panel session on May 29 during the Astana International Forum, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Alibek Kuantyrov outlined the country’s ambitions to transform the route into a vital artery for regional connectivity.
The session, co-organized with the Boao Forum for Asia, featured high-profile participants, including Boao Forum Chairman and former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
Kuantyrov highlighted that Kazakhstan boasts over 3,500 kilometers of strategic railway infrastructure linking China to Caspian Sea ports. In the coming years, annual cargo volumes along the TITR are projected to reach 10 million tons.
“The TITR is not just a logistics route; it is an infrastructure of trust, efficiency, and growth,” Kuantyrov said. “Kazakhstan is committed to both physical and digital integration. We are already seeing tangible outcomes: in March 2024, a container train from Xi’an [China] reached Azerbaijan in just 11 days, including only three days traversing Kazakhstan.”
This efficiency, Kuantyrov explained, was enabled by key infrastructure improvements such as the upgrade of the Dostyk-Moiynty railway section, development of the Khorgos logistics hub on the Kazakh-Chinese border, and the implementation of digital customs technologies.
Kazakhstan is investing over $35 billion in infrastructure development, including new railways, the expansion of the Aktau and Kuryk ports, and the creation of a container hub in partnership with international investors. “Our objective is not merely transit,” Kuantyrov added. “Kazakhstan views the TITR as a foundation for industrial development and sustainable integration into global supply chains.”
To further enhance east-west cargo flow, the country is constructing second tracks along the 836-kilometer Dostyk-Moiynty section. According to Kazakhstan Temir Zholy, the national railway operator, the additional tracks are set to open in June. These upgrades are expected to increase the line’s capacity fivefold from 12 to 60 train pairs per day.
