Antalya (TDI): Kazakh Minister of Transport Marat Karabayev highlighted Kazakhstan’s strategic infrastructure initiatives to position itself as a major transit hub linking Asia and Europe at the fourth Antalya Diplomacy Forum.
Expressing gratitude to the Organization of Turkic States for organizing the event and to Türkiye for its warm hospitality in his address, he announced that Kazakhstan is investing $8 billion in the development of new roads and railways to modernize its transport network and improve regional connectivity.
“A major part of this strategy includes expanding Kazakhstan’s maritime capabilities on the Caspian Sea. With seventeen vessels currently in operation, the fleet is set to double as seventeen additional ships are scheduled to be added in the coming years,” he said.
Karabayev also highlighted Kazakhstan’s active cooperation with neighboring countries, including Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, and Türkiye, on a range of joint infrastructure initiatives.
“These projects are focused on enhancing the Middle Corridor’s capacity which is a major trade route linking East and West through digitalization of border processes and new railway links like the Makhtaaral line, which is likely to boost freight capacity by twenty million tons,” added the Minister of Transport.
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Looking ahead, he reaffirmed Kazakhstan’s goal to handle fifteen million tons of cargo by 2030, underscoring the significance of sustained regional collaboration to meet this target.
The Minister said that wide-ranging developments reflect Kazakhstan’s strategic vision to increase trade, energy exports, and digital connectivity across Eurasia, solidifying its position as a central player in the region’s transport and logistics landscape.
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The Antalya Diplomacy Forum is an annual global gathering held in Antalya, Türkiye, aiming to foster dialogue and collaboration among world leaders on pressing international issues.
Established in 2021, the forum has grown in prominence, attracting representatives from a number of nations and global organizations.
