TITR - The Times Of Central Asia

Viewing results 1 - 6 of 52

Trans-Caspian International Transport Route

Amid Global Unrest, the Trans-Caspian Corridor Faces a Crucial Test

The COVID-19 pandemic, geopolitical conflicts, and the ongoing shipping crisis in the Red Sea caused by Houthi attacks have severely disrupted global trade and logistics. These events have exposed the vulnerabilities of traditional supply chains and underscored the urgent need for diversification. For countries along the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), this presents a unique opportunity to solidify the corridor’s position as a key global logistics artery. But are they prepared to capitalize on this moment, and can the existing infrastructure sustain the rising flow of cargo? Integration and Infrastructure in Focus For landlocked nations, the value of an efficient overland route cannot be overstated. The development of the Trans-Caspian route depends on synchronized multimodal logistics, the elimination of infrastructure bottlenecks, the implementation of digital solutions, expedited customs procedures, and a transparent tariff policy. Experts note that the TITR has evolved from a transport project into a strategic initiative. Its future growth hinges on the quality of intergovernmental coordination. In the past five years, transit volumes along the route have increased sixfold. The upward trend continues in 2025, with 2.6 million tons transported by rail in the first ten months alone. More than 400 types of goods now move along the corridor, including high-value items such as vehicles, electronics, clothing, and textiles. These products, which require timely delivery, signal the route’s growing integration into global supply chains. Demand from Chinese shippers is also rising, with shipments expanding beyond China’s interior to include Southeast Asian countries. At the VII International Transport and Logistics Business Forum “New Silk Way,” Wang Lixin, Deputy Director General of China Railway, announced a new route under development: Southeast Asia-China-Central Asia-Europe. Bottlenecks That Threaten Growth A comprehensive audit conducted in mid-2025 revealed key barriers to expansion. In Kazakhstan, the primary constraint is railway capacity, currently limited to 12 container trains per day. National rail operator KTZ plans to raise this to 20 by 2027 through upgrades and new construction. The maritime segment, particularly the Caspian Sea, remains a persistent risk. Aktau port can currently handle five trains, but the completion of the second phase of its container hub is expected to raise this to eight. The first phase alone will boost capacity by 140,000 TEU this year, bringing the port’s total capacity to 240,000 TEU. However, falling water levels in the Caspian pose a serious challenge. In September 2025, Kazhydromet reported a drop to -29.31 meters off Kazakhstan’s coast, limiting shiploads and raising the threat of “shallow water restrictions.” In response, Kazakhstan has expedited dredging to restore design depths by the end of Q1 2026. Fleet shortages compound the issue. Kazmortransflot operates just three 350 TEU container ships and two dry cargo vessels. In January 2025, the company signed an agreement with Abu Dhabi Ports Group to build shallow-draft container ships with over 500 TEU capacity and larger ferries. KTZ also plans to acquire six vessels (up to 9,000 tons deadweight) by 2027. Challenges in Azerbaijan and Georgia The western segment of the route faces similar constraints....

Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor

EU Supports Connectivity Improvements in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan as Part of Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor

On November 27, Tashkent hosted the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor (TCTC) and Connectivity Investors Forum, where representatives of the European Union, Central Asian and South Caucasus states, Türkiye, and international development banks reaffirmed the strategic importance of the TCTC as a fast and reliable route linking Europe and Asia. The TCTC is the EU’s designation for the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), also known as the Middle Corridor. This multimodal route connects China and Southeast Asia to Europe via Central Asia, the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Türkiye in no more than 15 days, offering an alternative to the northern route through Russia. Participants discussed efforts to modernize both hard infrastructure, roads, railways, ports, and logistics hubs and soft connectivity, including digitalization, regulatory alignment, and trade facilitation. According to the EU Delegation in Uzbekistan, the forum, attended by European Commissioner for International Partnerships Jozef Síkela and European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos, produced several new agreements to enhance multimodal connectivity in Central Asia. The EU has committed EUR 10.4 million within an EBRD loan of EUR 35 million to modernize Aktau Port in Kazakhstan, a key logistics hub on the Caspian Sea. The project will expand berths, introduce energy-efficient cranes, and increase container-handling capacity, strengthening the Middle Corridor’s competitiveness. An envisaged EIB loan of EUR 150 million, backed by an EU guarantee of EUR 8.8 million, will support road rehabilitation in Kazakhstan. The financing for national operator KazAvtoZhol aims to improve sustainable transport infrastructure linked to the TCTC. The EU will contribute EUR 15.46 million within an EBRD loan of EUR 35 million for the modernization of the Karabalta-Chaldovar road in Kyrgyzstan. Upgrading the 31.7-kilometer section will enhance connectivity between Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan, reduce travel time and costs, and improve road safety. In Uzbekistan, an anticipated EIB loan of up to EUR 100 million, supported by an EU guarantee of EUR 6 million, will finance the Nukus Highway Development Project. The upgrade of 87 kilometers of the A380 highway, one of the country’s main transport arteries, is expected to strengthen regional trade and streamline transport flows with neighboring states. Speaking at the forum, Commissioner Marta Kos stressed the geopolitical and economic value of reliable east-west transport links: “All of us have learnt the hard way that excessive dependencies make us vulnerable," she said. "Investments in transport infrastructure, digital and energy connectivity create more options and less risk of blackmail. We need credible, long-term alternatives to the Northern Corridor. Cargo along the Middle Corridor has grown four-fold between 2022 and today. By 2030 it could again triple, if the right investments are made to increase capacity and close gaps.”

Middle Corridor

Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and China Deepen Cooperation on Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor

Railway companies from Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and Georgia have signed a cooperation agreement with China Railway Container Transport Corp., Ltd. (CRCT) to jointly develop the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), also known as the Middle Corridor – a strategic link connecting China and Europe via Central Asia and the South Caucasus. The agreement was signed during the Second China Railway Express Cooperation Forum, held on 18 November in Xi’an, under the theme “Connecting Asia and Europe for a Shared Future.” According to Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ), the country’s national railway operator, the agreement establishes formal cooperation between Chinese railways, through CRCT, and MIDDLE CORRIDOR MULTIMODAL Ltd., a joint venture created in 2023 by the railway companies of Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and Georgia. The initiative aims to enhance the efficiency, safety, digitalization, and sustainability of China-Europe rail container transport services along the trans-Caspian route. Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and Georgia play key roles along the TITR, which offers a vital alternative trade corridor between China and Europe that bypasses Russia. In recent years, Kazakhstan has strengthened its position as a regional transit hub. KTZ reports that freight transportation between Kazakhstan and China has increased more than 4.5-fold over the past decade. For 2025, total freight volume is projected to reach 35 million tons, with over 29 million tons transported in the first ten months, an 11% year-on-year increase. Joint infrastructure projects in China and Kazakhstan, including hubs in Lianyungang, Khorgos, and Xi’an, continue to demonstrate strong growth. Container shipments have more than quintupled in the past ten years, exceeding 1.4 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs). Momentum along the Trans-Caspian route also remains strong: the number of container trains increased by 12% in the first ten months of this year. To capitalise on this growth, Kazakhstan is investing in railway infrastructure. Modernization and construction of 5,000 kilometers of railway track is underway, which will raise the country’s annual cross-border freight capacity with China to 100 million tons in the coming years.

State Visit

Aliyev, Tokayev Pledge Deeper Cooperation as Azerbaijan Lifts Armenia Transit Ban

Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev began a state visit to Kazakhstan on Monday with a series of high-level meetings and a significant policy shift: Baku is lifting all restrictions on the transit of goods to Armenia. The move, announced during joint talks with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in Astana, is one of the most concrete regional gestures since the end of the Second Karabakh War. The visit began with an official welcoming ceremony at Akorda Presidential Palace in Astana, where Presidents Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Ilham Aliyev reviewed an honor guard before holding bilateral talks and chairing the second meeting of the Kazakhstan–Azerbaijan Supreme Intergovernmental Council. Speaking at a joint press briefing after the meeting, Aliyev confirmed that, “All restrictions on the transit of goods from Azerbaijan to Armenia and from third countries to Armenia through Azerbaijan have been lifted.” While no formal agreement was signed on Monday, the announcement is being viewed as a confidence-building measure at a moment of cautious diplomacy in the South Caucasus. Tokayev welcomed the development and stressed the importance of expanding cooperation between Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan in key sectors such as transport and energy. Ties on a Strategic Track Aliyev’s visit comes as Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan are expanding cooperation in multiple areas, including rail, ports, digital infrastructure, and energy. Monday’s talks produced several new accords and project announcements, including commitments to expand freight flows along the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (Middle Corridor) - a logistics network connecting China to Europe via Central Asia, the Caspian Sea, and the South Caucasus. Since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine upended established overland trade routes, the corridor’s importance has surged, with Astana and Baku positioning themselves as key actors in a reconfigured Eurasian logistics network that bypasses Russian territory. In his welcoming address, Tokayev framed Aliyev’s state visit as of “critically important significance for the further development of our strategic partnership.” Tokayev described the relationship as “allied in nature,” calling Azerbaijan “a regional power that has strengthened its authority on the international stage.” He emphasized that developing multifaceted cooperation “remains a priority” and highlighted trade, economic, and political partnership as key goals. “Azerbaijan is a special country for Kazakhstan, a fraternal state,” Tokayev stated. “We are united by common historical roots, a rich spiritual and cultural heritage, and, ultimately, a shared mentality and outlook on developments. On this unshakable foundation, we are successfully developing our multifaceted cooperation.” Aliyev, in turn, praised Kazakhstan’s ongoing political and economic reforms, saying his country “fully supports [Tokayev’s] course of modernization” and is aiming to “strengthen cooperation in all areas” In a related development, Azerbaijan’s state energy firm SOCAR and Kazakhstan’s sovereign wealth fund Samruk-Kazyna are expected to deepen their collaboration in upstream energy projects and petrochemical exports, though no new energy deals were signed on Monday. Transit Opening to Armenia: Why Now? Aliyev’s announcement on transit restrictions - made in Astana, not Baku - was notable not just for its content, but its timing and setting. Since the end of the 2020 Second Karabakh...

Middle Corridor

Official Meetings in Almaty Boost Efficiency of Trans-Caspian Transport Route

Almaty hosted a high-level meeting on October 1 of delegations from countries participating in the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR). The TITR is also known as the Middle Corridor, a strategic Eurasian trade link connecting China, Central Asia, and Europe. Senior officials from Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, and Turkey convened to discuss ways to enhance the corridor’s efficiency and competitiveness. Key Agreements Signed Among the main outcomes was the signing of an action plan aimed at removing bottlenecks along the TITR. The document outlines coordinated measures by the railway companies of Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and Georgia to streamline cargo transportation. The plan includes the introduction of a unified long-term tariff across the corridor and strategies to expand its overall capacity. Another major development was an agreement between the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and JSC Aktau International Sea Trade Port to modernize port infrastructure and acquire new ship-to-shore cranes. The initiative, supported by up to €45 million in financing from the EBRD and the European Union, aims to significantly boost container-handling capabilities at Aktau, Kazakhstan’s principal maritime hub on the Caspian Sea. The project includes the extension of two berths and the acquisition of weather-resistant cranes, enabling the port to operate two fully dedicated container berths. By the end of 2026, Aktau is expected to host the largest container terminal in the Caspian region, with an annual handling capacity of up to 240,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs). Regional Cooperation Under the OTS Also on October 1, Almaty hosted the 8th meeting of transport ministers of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS), which includes Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkey, and Uzbekistan. The ministers focused on accelerating the development of the TITR through greater adoption of digital technologies and electronic transit systems. Participants endorsed initiatives to enhance maritime transport, including expanded Caspian shipping, the construction of new transshipment facilities, and the launch of additional ferry services. The meeting also backed efforts to establish regular block train operations, particularly along the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway corridor.

Middle Corridor

Multimodal Transport: What Makes Modern Logistics Flexible and Efficient?

Kazakhstan has set itself the task of developing the country's transport and transit potential. The national railway network operator, as well as the country’s main freight and passenger rail carrier, is now engaged in organizing multimodal transportation that combines rail, maritime, air, and road transport, along with providing logistics services at international cargo hubs. In August, it was announced that KTZ Express JSC, a subsidiary of KTZ JSC, had been established as Kazakhstan's first national air freight carrier, and that modern sea vessels were being built to develop the domestic fleet. We spoke with Damir Kozhakhmetov, CEO of JSC “KTZ Express,” about the prospects for developing aviation and maritime competencies within the framework of a multimodal operator. - Mr. Kozhakhmetov, could you tell us about your company’s plans for creating a national cargo airline under JSC “KTZ Express”? - First, I would note that establishing a national cargo airline means building a modern, competitive freight carrier. The project is coordinated by the Samruk-Kazyna Sovereign Wealth Fund, while our company is designated as the lead implementer. This effort will allow Kazakhstan to strengthen its position as a key transit hub of Eurasia and deepen integration into global transport chains. In terms of goals, the priority is to ensure Kazakhstan has stable access to international markets. The new carrier will not only handle transit cargo but also open new opportunities for businesses, especially where delivery speed is critical. Aviation, in particular, offers capabilities that no other mode of transport can match. As you know, the global air cargo market is growing rapidly. On the one hand, this is driven by the expansion of e-commerce; on the other, by rising transit flows between China and Europe. Kazakhstan’s unique geographic location gives us an advantage, and our task is to turn that into concrete, competitive services. The process of building the airline is structured in stages, and we have already started practical implementation. Research results confirm strong potential on routes between China and Europe, the Middle East and Central Asia, and in transit shipments via Kazakhstan. These routes will form the backbone of a sustainable network and the company’s long-term growth, aligned with current market trends, competition, and projected demand. In parallel, we have begun organizational structuring, regulatory compliance, and the development of manuals and documentation required to obtain an Air Operator Certificate (AOC). These documents are essential for launching any airline, as they confirm that the carrier has the necessary structure, staff, aircraft, and procedures that meet aviation law and safety standards. To ensure the project is built on solid ground and delivers real impact, we are engaging international consultants and leading industry experts. At the first stage, we plan to launch regular flights and establish a reliable route network. Priority will, of course, be given to the China-Europe corridor, which is one of the fastest-growing segments with strong and stable demand. At the next stage, the fleet will expand, and operations will extend to Southeast Asia, North America, the Middle East, and Africa. We...