GLOBAL GATEWAY INVESTMENT FORUM: THE KEY TO DEVELOPING TRANSPORT CONNECTIONS BETWEEN THE EU AND CENTRAL ASIA

ON JANUARY 29, THE GLOBAL GATEWAY INVESTMENT FORUM BEGAN ITS WORK IN BRUSSELS (BELGIUM), THE WORK OF WHICH IS AIMED AT DEVELOPING PROJECTS ON TRANSPORT CONNECTION BETWEEN THE EU AND CENTRAL ASIA.

Traditionally, representatives of the governments of the EU and partner countries, financial institutions, including the European Investment Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, as well as activists and entrepreneurs take part in it.

     

The delegation from Kazakhstan at the Investors Forum was headed by Marat Karabayev, the Minister of Transport of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The delegation also included representatives of the Ministry of Transport of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan, heads of the largest industry companies: Kazakhstan Temir Zholy NC JSC, KTZ Express JSC, Development Bank of Kazakhstan JSC, Kazakh Invest JSC, Baiterek NMH JSC, Industrial Development Fund JSC, Union of Transport Workers of Kazakhstan - KAZLOGISTICS, World Road Association - PIARC in the Republic of Kazakhstan, Kazakhstan Highway Research Institute JSC, Aktau Sea Commercial Port NC JSC, academy of Civil Aviation JSC, Trans-Caspian International Transport Route International Association, Iteca Kazakhstan Exhibition Company, Kazmortransflot National Maritime Shipping Company LLP, Kuryk Port  LLP, SEMURG INVEST LLP, ERSAI Caspian Contractor LLС , DAR RAIL LLP, PTC Holding LLP, the Union of Road Carriers and Forwarders of Kazakhstan, the Association of Kazakhstan Freight Rail Carriers and others.

During the two-day program of the Forum, issues of expanding and developing business ties in the field of transport, attracting investments for the implementation of mutually beneficial projects, cooperation in the field of transport and other priority areas will be discussed.

The first day of the Forum focused on land transport infrastructure as a way to reduce transit times between Central Asia and Europe, trade procedures facilitation, and trade and investment potential. The Forum also held a separate session dedicated to transport connections across the Caspian Sea, which aims to transform the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor into a multimodal, modern, competitive, sustainable and fast route linking Europe and Central Asia in 15 days or less.

   

In his speech, the Minister of Transport presented to the participants of the European forum a presentation on the achievements and prospects for the development of the transport industry of Kazakhstan, emphasizing the key role of the country in the transit of cargoes between Europe and Central Asia. He noted that cargo turnover is growing at an accelerated pace. Thus, following the results of 2023, transit traffic from China alone doubled, and the total volume of transit increased by 43%.

Marat Karabayev proposed using Kazakhstani sites as the main and most sustainable transit route between Europe and Asia, and also invited European organizations and companies to take part in the Kazakhstan Transport Week, which will be held in June 2024 in Astana (Kazakhstan).

You can get acquainted with the latest achievements and innovations in the field of transport and logistics, as well as establish business connections and partnerships at the TransLogistica Kazakhstan exhibition, which is also taking place as part of the Kazakhstan Transport Week, from June 19 to 21, 2024 at the EXPO International Exhibition Center in Astana city. In 2023, 225 companies from 17 countries took part in the TransLogistica Kazakhstan exhibition, the number of participants increased by 40%. The exhibition was visited by 3,940 industry professionals, and 129 speakers made presentations in 16 specialized sessions.

  

As part of the Investment Forum, Marat Karabayev met with Georges Gilkinet, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Mobility of Belgium. During the meeting, issues on expanding Transport Corridors between Europe and Kazakhstan were discussed.

Also, on the first day of the Forum, the Minister signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the European Investment Bank regarding financial resources provided to promote and develop the transport sector of Kazakhstan in the context of sustainable transport connections between Europe and Central Asia.

The effective work of the Global Gateway forum also resulted in the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Economic Development Bank of Kazakhstan and the European Investment Bank. The document will attract investments to develop the country’s transport potential.

The key transport project in Eurasia was the construction of the Western Europe - Western China road route according to the rules of international financial organizations. Within the framework of the project, 3 thousand km of roads were built across the territory of Kazakhstan. Most of them have already been integrated into the Trans-Caspian transport route, which has become especially important in recent years.

   

Another 14 promising road projects are awaiting investment for successful implementation. To this end, Kazakhstan is constantly working to improve and optimize the industry regulatory framework, introduce new technologies and digitalize road construction.

The Forum also aims to initiate the process of implementing and coordinating investments along the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor, implementing specific actions identified in the Sustainable Transport Connections between Europe and Central Asia study. This study dates back to June 2023 and was led by the European Commission and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). The results were presented at the 2nd EU-Central Asia Economic Forum in May 2023 in Almaty, Kazakhstan.

The Global Gateway Investment Forum on EU-Central Asia sustainable transport will continue until 30 January 2024.