President Tokayev Ratifies Agreements on Middle Corridor Trade Route

Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has signed the law on the ratification of the agreement with China on the development of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), commonly known as the Middle Corridor, including for container trains between China and Europe.

He also signed the law on the ratification of the agreement with China on international road transport.

These agreements mark a crucial step forward in advancing trade and economic cooperation between Kazakhstan and China by increasing the volume of cargo transportation between the two countries. 

The agreements, which have already received ratification from China, focus on enhancing infrastructure for road, rail, and sea transport. The agreements aim to create favorable conditions for cargo transportation and develop logistics centers in both countries. These centers are expected to attract additional transit volumes, making the Middle Corridor a key artery in international trade.

As of May 1, 2024, cargo transportation via the TITR surged by 14 percent compared to the previous year, reaching a volume of 1.4 million tonnes. This included a diverse range of goods such as equipment, consumer products, and agricultural commodities.

Transit of goods from Asia to Europe now takes only 18 days, with just six of those days spent traversing Kazakhstan. This represents a dramatic improvement, cutting transit time in half compared to last year. 

Compared to the Northern Corridor, the Middle Corridor is more economical and faster as a trade route between Europe and Asia, reducing travel distance by 2,000 kilometers. The multimodal land and sea transport route stretches from China through Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan, and, across the Caspian Sea through Azerbaijan and Georgia to the Black Sea and Türkiye.

The route consists of approximately 4,250 km of rail lines and about 500 km of seaway. The ultimate destination of the corridor is the European marketplace via Türkiye and the Black Sea.

The Middle Corridor also offers more favorable climate conditions and shortens travel time by 15 days compared to the sea route. Furthermore, it provides significant opportunities for cargo traffic in Asia, allowing loads to reach the Middle East, North Africa, and the Mediterranean region by integrating port connections in Türkiye.

Effectively utilized, the Middle Corridor is expected to create crucial economic opportunities, enabling South Caucasian and Central Asian countries to benefit from the $600 billion annual China-Europe trade. Particularly, the establishment of logistical centers and free trade zones at the ports of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Turkmenistan will facilitate the development and deepening of Trans-Caspian cooperation.

Kazakhstan serves as a vital link in the East-West connectivity between China and Europe. The country’s strategic location and access to the Caspian Sea offer unparalleled transit capacity, fostering the realization of East-West transport projects.