A world discussion board in Brussels highlighted the position of strengthening of commerce and provide chains between Europe and Asia by way of the growth and integration of the Trans-Caspian Worldwide Transport Route (often known as “the Center Hall”) into the worldwide logistics system, in addition to the position of Kazakhstan’s transport hub.

Margulan Baimukhan, Head of Kazakhstan’s Mission to the EU, emphasised that the “growth and diversification of the nation’s transit routes stays a precedence space for New Kazakhstan”.

At an occasion, organized by the Everlasting Mission of Kazakhstan to the EU with the help of the European Parliament, Kazakhstan Railways NC JSC, and the “Trans-Caspian Worldwide Transport Route” Worldwide Affiliation (TITR), Baimukhan famous that in 2022, President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev introduced plans to speculate about $20B in transport infrastructure to assist develop the transit flows and meet the rising wants of the area’s nations.

Representatives of the European Exterior Motion Service (EEAS), the European Fee’s DG MOVE and the EU Transport Commissioner unanimously underlined the EU’s curiosity in “creating transport and transit cooperation with Kazakhstan and with the hall individuals”. On this context, it was famous that the trusting political relations between Kazakhstan and the EU create a further constructive impetus for cooperation within the transport sector.

The Center Hall dialogue in Brussels was the primary discussion board within the EU capital to debate the prospects of the route that goes from China by way of the territory and ports of Kazakhstan and onwards to Azerbaijan, Georgia or Turkey to the nations of Europe.

In gentle of constant modifications within the area’s commerce and logistics routes, the Center Hall is changing into the principle land route for the transit of products from China to Europe. The Center hall individuals be aware a pointy improve in site visitors quantity and demand for the providers alongside the route. That is additionally confirmed by the excessive curiosity of European transport and logistics corporations that arrived in Brussels to take part within the occasion and meet in particular person with representatives of 11 TITR members and Kazakhstan’s railway and transit operators through the B2B session.

Greater than 150 consultants, politicians, diplomats in addition to representatives of 80 corporations from eighteen European and South Caucasus nations took half within the occasion. Together with the secretaries-general of TITR and TRACECA, the Kazakhstani delegation included the CEOs of KTZ NC JSC, KTZ Specific, KTZ Specific Hong Kong Restricted, and ports of Aktau and Quryk, JSC Kazmortransflot, and many others.

Greater than ten worldwide organizations and monetary establishments (UN, OSCE, EIB, EBRD, EBRD, OSJD, TMTM, TRACECA, WCO, and others), in addition to the EU railway associations (“Neighborhood of European Railway and Infrastructure Corporations”, “Reilfreight”, “FERRMED,” and many others.) participated within the occasion.

Leila Batyrbekova, TRACECA consultant in Brussels and railways skilled from Kazakhstan, moderated the dialogue.

MEP Bogusław Liberadzki in his speech highlighted the EU Technique of “International Gateway”, the place the bloc plans to develop transport connectivity with its world companions, together with Central Asia and Kazakhstan. The technique is to build up greater than 300B euros in investments, supporting the advance of transit hyperlinks with the EU’s commerce companions.

In his presentation, Luc Devigne, Deputy Managing Director on the EEAS, famous that transport and transit is without doubt one of the most essential areas among the many 29 fields of cooperation set out within the Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Settlement between Kazakhstan and the EU. The EU pays specific consideration to the event of multidimensional cooperation with Kazakhstan, its largest commerce and financial associate within the area, and the strengthening of transit cooperation with the area is enshrined in key EU methods such because the “International Gateway” and the EU Technique for Central Asia. Fixed dialogue on the highest degree, political stability and the intention of the present reforms in Kazakhstan assist strengthen financial ties between the events, the European diplomat famous.

In response to Pablo Fabregas Martinez, a cupboard member of the European Commissioner for Transport, “Kazakhstan already performs a key position in transit between China and Europe, which has been doubling yearly since 2013”.

Harvey Rouse, Head of Unit on the DG MOVE, the European Fee, spoke concerning the particulars of the EBRD examine on sustainable transport hyperlinks between the EU and Central Asia. The examine, the outcomes of that are anticipated by early 2023, will establish bottlenecks, the lacking hyperlinks, and the funding demand alongside the Center Hall when it comes to each laborious and smooth infrastructure.

In response to Gaidar Abdikerimov, Secretary-Basic of the TITR, the variety of Affiliation members are at the moment rising. The TITR can be engaged on enhancing the transit route from the ports of Batumi and Poti to the Romanian port of Constanta. On the sideline of the occasion, the Director-Basic of the Managing Firm of Bulgarian ports of Varna and Burgas expressed curiosity in cooperation with the affiliation.

Yerlan Koishibayev, Managing Director for Logistics of Kazakhstan Temir Zholy NC JSC, assured the individuals that Kazakh railways are geared toward diversifying export routes, together with by way of the Center Hall. He careworn that the work has already begun to extend the carrying capability and modernization of your entire route.

The individuals confirmed that the profitable growth of transport and logistics ties entails a continuing dialogue and direct contact between trade stakeholders. On this context, the discussion board allowed for direct hyperlinks between Kazakhstani and European individuals.

A few of the sensible outcomes of the occasion are the EIB’s potential participation within the modernization of the transport infrastructure of KTZ NC JSC, and the group of port administration programs for Kazakhstan’s port staff on the port of Antwerp in Belgium.