On December 27, Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev had a telephone conversation with the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev. The presidents exchanged condolences and expressed words of support to the families of those killed in the crash of an Azerbaijani passenger plane in Kazakhstan’s Mangistau region. On December 25, the Embraer 190 of the Azerbaijan Airlines
A passenger plane flying from Azerbaijan’s capital, Baku, to Russia has crashed near the city of Aqtau in western Kazakhstan with 67 people on board, Kazakh authorities said on December 25, RFE/RL’s Kazakh Service reported. Authorities said that dozens of people had been killed but that there were several survivors. According to preliminary information, 28
Kazakhstan’s national railways company, Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ), has launched a new electric train connecting the country’s capital, Astana, and Borovoye, one of the country’s most popular resorts. Borovoye is the commonly used Russian name of the Burabay National Park, located just 250 kilometers north of Astana and famous for its pine forests and beautiful
On December 5, the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) and the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic signed an agreement on the provision of technical assistance for the Bishkek—Kuntuu—Belogorka—Suusamyr Highway Construction project. The technical assistance project includes the development of a preliminary feasibility study for the construction of an alternative highway that will connect Bishkek with
On November 27, Russian President Vladimir Putin made a state visit to Kazakhstan. Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev called Putin’s visit a historic event that marks an important milestone in the development of Kazakh-Russian relations. “For Kazakhstan, Russia is a strategic partner and a reliable ally. We are united by unbreakable bonds of friendship, centuries-old good
Kazakhstan’s national railway company Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ) has announced that the first return container train along the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR) departed on November 24 from Baku, Azerbaijan to Xi’an, China via Kazakhstan. The train, consisting of 62 containers with petroleum coke, will travel along the TITR after reverse loading and will return
On November 20, Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev paid a state visit to Hungary and held talks with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. Emphasizing that Hungary is a reliable strategic partner of Kazakhstan in the European Union, Tokayev said that the main goal of his visit was to “give new impetus to our cooperation”. Tokayev noted
At the Kazakhstan-Serbian Business Forum held in Belgrade on November 12, Ulugbek Orazov, deputy general director for commerce of KTZ Express JSC (a subsidiary of Kazakhstan’s national railway company Kazakhstan Temir Zholy), presented the company’s key initiatives aimed at developing infrastructure along the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), also known as the Middle Corridor, which
On November 12, Kazakhstan’s Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov took part in the opening of Korkyt Ata airport’s new terminal in Kyzylorda. The launch of the new terminal will increase the capacity of the air harbour from 300 thousand to 2 million passengers per year. The renovated Korkyt Ata terminal meets the high standards of the
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a sovereign-guaranteed local currency loan of up to $291.49 million equivalent to KazAvtoZhol National Company to reconstruct 208 kilometers of road in central Kazakhstan that will improve domestic and regional connectivity, road safety, and promote national and international trade. The ADB project will upgrade the existing two-lane highway
On October 24, Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Olzhas Bektenov inspected the construction of a light rail transport (LRT) line in the capital, Astana, the government’s press service reported. Akim (Mayor) of Astana Zhenis Kasymbek reported that to date, the laying of the beams of the LRT flyover has been completed. By the end of 2024,
Digitalization of customs administration and cargo transportation is becoming a key priority for Kazakhstan as it seeks to strengthen its position in the international arena and become a leading player in the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). Effective digitalization and integration with international trade routes can provide Kazakhstan with significant economic advantages, Rosreporter writes in an
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $86.67 million grant to help Tajikistan further improve national road connectivity by developing a demonstration green corridor in the country. The project will upgrade the existing degraded two lane 49-kilometer Dangara–Guliston road, widening this to four lanes. The project is the first to pilot the innovative methods promoted in
Kazakhstan’s longest bridge was opened in East Kazakhstan Region on October 21 across the Bukhtarma reservoir. The two-lane automobile bridge is 1,316 meters long, and up to 80,000 vehicles can pass through it per day. At a meeting with local residents at the opening ceremony, Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov said that the new bridge, which
President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev arrived in Turkmenistan on an official visit on October 10. At the International Airport of Ashgabat, the Kazakh leader was welcomed by the National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty (People’s Council) Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov. President Tokayev held talks with his Turkmen counterpart, Serdar Berdimuhamedov. Tokayev emphasized
The European Union and Turkmenistan held a high-level event on October 3 in Ashgabat that launched the Coordination Platform of the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor. This Corridor aims to strengthen connectivity by developing transport routes between Central Asia and the European Union. The event brought together the European Union, representatives of the countries along the Trans
Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Transport said that the first meeting of the joint Kazakh-Chinese working group on cargo transportation along the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR) on September 25 agreed on the projected volumes of cargo transportation from China to Europe via Kazakhstan along the route until the end of 2029. The TITR, also known as
One of Kyrgyzstan’s most picturesque places, the Saimaluu-Tash National Nature Park, may face serious environmental risks as parts of its territory may be used for the construction of a railway from China to Uzbekistan, mk.kg reported. One of the key problems is the possible change in the category of land on which the park is
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) on 19 September said it has approved $109.5 million in financing to enhance the national road around the Issyk-Kul Lake, one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Kyrgyz Republic and a strategic location that connects to neighboring Central Asian countries. The Issyk-Kul Ring Road Improvement Project will construct
The 2nd summit of Central Asian countries and Germany was held on September 17 in Kazakhstan’s capital, Astana. Chaired by Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, the meeting was attended by Federal Chancellor of Germany Olaf Scholz, President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov, President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon, President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov, and President of Uzbekistan Shavkat
