Kazakhstan urges OTS nations to boost trade along Middle Corridor

Kazakhstan is urging the countries of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) to maximize the potential of the Middle Corridor by increasing trade volume and cargo traffic.

Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev made this statement during the OTS summit in Shusha, Caliber.Az reports citing the official website of the head of state.

In his address, Tokayev highlighted Kazakhstan's role as the current chair of the organization in enhancing its effectiveness.

Tokayev emphasized the need to bolster the OTS's status and outlined his vision for its future plans and priorities. He stressed the importance of expanding trade and cargo transportation with OTS members and other countries, particularly through the Trans-Caspian international transport route.

"The potential of the Trans-Caspian international transport route must be fully utilized," Tokayev emphasized, noting that container transportation along this corridor has doubled since 2023. To streamline cargo delivery times, he mentioned the launch of the Digital Trade Corridor multimodal digital platform.

Tokayev also highlighted the close cooperation with Azerbaijan in enhancing this corridor, including the integration of bilateral railway administrations. He cited a significant increase in cargo traffic along the Middle Corridor in the past year and the capacity of the Aktau port to handle up to 300,000 containers, facilitating shipping from the Caspian basin and Central Asian countries.

The Trans-Caspian international transport route, known as the Middle Corridor, spans China, Kazakhstan, the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and onward to Türkiye and European countries.