Digital platform along Middle Corridor to be launched by 2025

Secretary General of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR) International Association Gaidar Abdikerimov has said that a digital platform (seamless digital corridor) is being created along the TITR (Middle Corridor), which will be launched at the end of this year or early next year.

He told Report that the platform is being developed by Global DTC ((Digital Trade Corridor), a subsidiary of Singapore's PSA International, and is designed to accelerate the pace of operations along the corridor.

Abdikerimov also recalled the opening in February of the Innovation Center, jointly established by the national railway company Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ) and China's Huawei. This project is expected to give new impetus to the development of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Corridor and strengthen trade and economic cooperation in Eurasia.

The Innovation Center was created to implement the Smart Railway project, which provides digital solutions to improve the efficiency of railroad transport.

Abdikerimov also outlined the nearest plans for the development of railroads and ports.

"Infrastructure projects totaling $6.5 billion are currently underway, including the construction of the second line of the Dostyk-Aktogay-Moyinty and Shalkar-Beyneu-Mangystau railway network, as well as the Almaty rail bypass. These projects promise to significantly improve future transportation corridors by addressing congestion problems. Infrastructure projects like these are critical to alleviating and removing road bottlenecks," the Secretary General noted.

According to him, plans are underway to build a large container hub at the port of Aktau, as well as efforts to deepen the water harbor there and at the port of Kuryk. Apart from that, construction of wheat terminals is underway.

"80 per cent of the Middle Corridor's cargo traffic comes from Kazakhstan. Kazakhstan's exports include oil and oil products, non-ferrous metals, grain crops, wheat, sulfur - all this goes through the Middle Corridor," Abdikerimov added.

Note that Azerbaijan acts as a transshipment point for Kazakh oil and uranium, as well as a consumer of Kazakh goods, including wheat.

The international association TITR was established in 2017. Initially founded by three countries – Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Georgia—with seven companies, the association has since expanded to encompass 11 countries with 25 infrastructure and logistics companies.