Kazakhstan, Russia and Turkmenistan to Develop North-South Transport Corridor

On 26th February, Kazakhstan’s Deputy Minister of Transport, Maksat Kaliakparov reported that the railway administrations of Kazakhstan, Russia, and Turkmenistan are planning a joint venture to improve services and reduce cargo delivery time along the International North–South Transport Corridor (INSTC). The North–South Transport Corridor is a key element of the Eurasian transport network, expanding opportunities for logistics and supply chains between Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) countries, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. The INSTC has three routes: the Western route (via Azerbaijan), the Eastern route (via Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan), and the Trans-Caspian route (via Caspian seaports). The Eastern route runs through Kazakhstan’s western Mangystau region and connects the Kazakh port of Aktau and the northern ports of Iran. According to Kaliakparov, in 2023, the volume of cargo transported by rail along the North-South corridor alone amounted to 2.1 million tons, 4% more than the previous year. By 2027, the transport potential of the entire corridor will be increased from 6 million to 10 million tons per year. In an effort to become a regional transit hub and avoid geopolitical bottlenecks associated with transit through Russia and Iran, Kazakhstan is now actively engaged in the development of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route – also known as the Middle Corridor – that will ensure a flow of transport between Europe, Central Asia, and China, without passing through Russia.