Transportation - The Times Of Central Asia

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Transportation Aktau Port Transit Hub

Kazakhstan Inaugurates Major Container Hub at Aktau Port

On June 9, Kazakhstan officially launched the largest container hub on the Caspian Sea, situated within its Aktau port. The project, spearheaded by Kazakhstan’s national railway company, Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ), was implemented in collaboration with China's Lianyungang port and the Aktau International Sea Trade Port. China Communications Construction Company, a prominent Chinese state corporation specializing in transport infrastructure, served as the general contractor. During the opening ceremony, Nurlan Zhakupov, Chairman of the Board of the National Welfare Fund Samruk-Kazyna, highlighted the joint efforts of Samruk-Kazyna and KTZ in advancing Kazakhstan’s transit and transport potential, a key strategic objective for the nation. "Over the 10 years of KTZ's partnership with the port of Lianyungang, the Kazakh-Chinese terminal in Lianyungang, the Khorgos Gateway Dry Port, and now the container hub in Aktau have been opened. This project is an important step in the development of transport and logistics in Kazakhstan," he stated. The newly inaugurated hub is expected to significantly accelerate the processing of containerized cargo, enhance transit capabilities, and reinforce Kazakhstan's pivotal role as a strategic link on both the East-West and North-South transport routes. The operational launch of the hub was marked by the arrival of the 100,000th container from China, transported via the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), a rapidly expanding trade corridor connecting China and Europe through Kazakhstan.

Transportation TITR China-Europe Freight Kazakhstan Temir Zholy

Kazakhstan’s Terminal in Xi’an Drives Surge in China-Europe Freight

Kazakhstan’s logistics terminal in Xi’an, a major transportation hub in China’s Shaanxi Province, has catalyzed a dramatic surge in container traffic along the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), boosting Kazakhstan’s position as a critical player in regional trade. According to Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ), the national railway operator, freight volume from China via this corridor increased 33-fold in 2024. Operational since February 2024, the terminal has become a linchpin in cross-continental trade, enhancing the flow of goods between China and Europe through Kazakhstan. Xi’an hosts China’s largest dry port and is a pivotal launch point for freight to Europe. Over 30% of all container trains departing China for the European Union originate from Xi’an, while about 40% of China's imports from the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), which includes Kazakhstan and Russia, are routed through the city. The Kazakhstan terminal in Xi’an currently has an annual handling capacity of 133,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU). In 2024, it processed over 276,000 tons of cargo, equivalent to approximately 23,000 TEU. In the first four months of 2025 alone, the terminal handled 10,524 TEU (or 126,288 tons). Plans are in place to expand throughput to 83,000 TEU annually by 2030. The terminal predominantly facilitates the shipment of vehicles and auto parts from top Chinese manufacturers including BYD, Geely, Chery, and Hongqi. It also processes large volumes of electronic goods, metal products, and consolidated cargo. This development underscores Kazakhstan’s growing strategic role in the TITR, a route increasingly seen as a vital alternative to the Northern Corridor passing through Russia. As trade dynamics shift, Kazakhstan continues to assert itself as a central transit hub connecting China with Central Asia and Europe.

Kyrgyzstan Transportation North-South Highway delay

Kyrgyzstan Delays Opening of Alternative North-South Highway to 2026

Kyrgyzstan has pushed back the opening of its long-anticipated alternative North-South highway to 2026, according to the Ministry of Transport and Communications. The route was originally slated to open in May 2025, but the timeline has been extended to accommodate additional infrastructure work. The delay stems from plans to construct two avalanche protection galleries, three overpass bridges, and a 25-kilometer bypass section between the villages of Barpy and Safarovka. The ministry confirmed that all additional construction will be completed by 2026. The 433-kilometer highway is a strategic transport corridor linking Balykchy in the Issyk-Kul region with Jalal-Abad in the south. Notably, approximately 200 kilometers of the route traverse areas where no roads previously existed. Key engineering achievements along the route include Kyrgyzstan’s longest tunnel, located at the Kok-Art mountain pass, and two major overpass bridges. Once operational, the highway is expected to cut travel time between Jalal-Abad and Balykchy from 13 hours to just six. Currently, the only existing route connecting Kyrgyzstan’s northern and southern regions is the Bishkek-Osh highway. The new North-South corridor is expected to dramatically enhance both passenger and freight transportation between the regions, especially in the absence of a direct railway connection.

Transportation Education Investments Islamic Development Bank

Islamic Development Bank Funds $299M in Uzbek Education and Infrastructure

Uzbekistan and the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) have signed two agreements totaling $299 million to enhance the country’s education system and upgrade road infrastructure. The agreements were signed at the Al-Ula Conference for Emerging Market Economies by IsDB Chairman Dr. Muhammad Al Jasser and Uzbekistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Jamshid Kuchkarov. The first agreement, worth $160.25 million, aims to improve the quality of Uzbekistan’s education system. In partnership with the Global Partnership for Education, the project will fund the construction of 58 modern schools equipped with laboratories, furniture, and digital learning tools. The initiative also includes: The construction of 2,431 classrooms Teacher training programs Reforms in student assessment Support for inclusive education By 2026, the project is expected to provide all children in Uzbekistan with access to a competency-based education system that ensures equal learning opportunities and improves overall student performance. The second agreement, valued at $138.8 million, focuses on upgrading a stretch of the A373 highway in the Tashkent region, a key transportation route between the Uzbek capital and Osh in Kyrgyzstan. The improvements aim to reduce travel time along the section by half — bringing it down to 30 minutes by 2030 — and lower road accidents by 40%, reducing the annual number of incidents to 24. The project will expand the highway to four lanes, increasing its capacity to handle higher traffic volumes. The upgrades are also expected to boost regional trade and tourism, while strengthening Uzbekistan’s transport links with neighboring countries. As part of its broader commitment to Uzbekistan’s development, the IsDB previously announced a $260 million plan in April last year to support infrastructure improvements from 2024 to 2028. The initiative will focus on Samarkand, Surxondaryo, and Qashqadaryo provinces, funding the construction of schools, medical centers, water supply networks, and upgraded electricity systems. These agreements highlight Uzbekistan’s ongoing efforts to modernize its infrastructure and improve the quality of life for its citizens, with strong backing from international financial institutions.

Transport Regional Cooperation Regional Development Transportation public transport

Uzbekistan to Launch Bus Routes to Central Asian Countries, Russia, and China

Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Transport has unveiled plans to establish new international passenger bus routes connecting regions of Uzbekistan to cities in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Russia, and China. The initiative aims to increase the share of bus transportation in Uzbekistan’s international passenger traffic, which is currently dominated by air travel. Planned Routes Kazakhstan Bukhara – Turkestan Urgench – Aktau Fergana – Almaty Kyrgyzstan Andijan – Osh Andijan – Jalalabad Andijan – Arslanbob Kosonsoy – Jalalabad Bukhara – Bishkek Tajikistan Samarkand – Dushanbe Bukhara – Dushanbe Russia Surkhandarya – Bukhara – Urgench – Nukus – Moscow Urgench – Nukus – Ufa Nukus – Krasnodar Tashkent – Ufa Tashkent – Krasnodar China Nukus – Urgench – Bukhara – Urumqi (Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region) The Ministry has invited both domestic and international transport companies to apply for the operation of regular bus services on these proposed routes.

Logistics Infrastructure Development Transportation TITR multimodal transportation International Transit

Kazakhstan Building Five Cross-Border Trade Hubs

Kazakhstan is advancing plans to establish five cross-border trade and economic hubs, aiming to position the country as a key global transport and logistics center. The initiative was reviewed at a government meeting on December 10. Strategic Hub Development Minister of Trade and Integration Arman Shakkaliyev reported that significant progress has been made on the hubs, with rail and road links already in place. The planned hubs are: The Khorgos Hub: Located on the border with China. The Caspian Hub: Situated along the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR). The Eurasia Center for Cross-Border Trade: Positioned at the border with Russia. The “Central Asia” International Center for Industrial Cooperation: At the border with Uzbekistan. The Industrial Trade and Logistics Complex: At the border with Kyrgyzstan. Additionally, container hubs are planned for the ports of Aktau and Kuryk in the Mangistau region. Multimodal air hubs are also under development at airports in the cities of Astana, Almaty, Shymkent, and Aktobe. Broader Economic Goals Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov underscored the strategic importance of these projects, emphasizing their potential to reduce transit times, boost industrial production, increase tax revenues, and create new jobs. Bektenov highlighted that the network of hubs will form a unified trade and transport space with Kazakhstan’s key trading partners. “This will significantly increase trade turnover between the countries and strengthen strategic relations with neighboring states,” he said. The prime minister also stressed the importance of leveraging major transport corridors such as the East-West, North-South, and Trans-Caspian International Transport Route corridors to enhance access to the markets of China, the Persian Gulf, the Caucasus, and Europe.