Kazakhstan to sign new TRACECA transit agreement, bypassing Russia

Kazakhstan is preparing to sign a new agreement introducing a unified transit permit under the TRACECA transport corridor, a move seen as an alternative route bypassing Russia, local media outlet Kaztag.kz reports.

The agreement is designed to regulate international cargo transportation by road across the territories of participating countries, establishing a single mechanism for the issuance and use of transit permits. Officials say it will simplify and accelerate transport, improve transparency and digitalisation of procedures, and increase transit flows along TRACECA routes.

The document notes that the agreement will take effect 30 days after the fourth notification, with an annual cycle of transit permit use from January 1 to January 31 of the following year. Authorities expect the measure to improve coordination between relevant agencies, reduce border crossing times, and enhance the efficiency of transit control.

TRACECA (Transport Corridor Europe-Caucasus-Asia) is an international programme launched by the European Union in 1993 to develop a multimodal transport corridor linking Europe, the Caucasus, and Asia. The initiative involves 13 countries, including Kazakhstan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkey, and Iran, and aims to modernise rail, road, maritime, and air routes while providing an alternative to traditional transport pathways such as the Trans-Siberian Railway.

The programme is intended to promote regional economic integration, trade, and investment, with coordination managed through the Intergovernmental Commission and the Permanent Secretariat in Baku.

By Vugar Khalilov