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For millennia, Kazakhstan has stood at a vital junction along the ancient Silk Road, its strategic location forging a link between Europe and Asia. Today, the Central Asian nation is leveraging its rich legacy as a central transport route as it reestablishes itself as a key gateway for facilitating intercontinental trade, cultural exchange, and cross-border cooperation. In an effort to capitalize on these assets, Kazakhstan is set to host the Astana International Forum 2025 under the theme “Connecting Minds, Shaping the Future”, spearheading international cooperation on foreign policy, energy, and finance.
Scheduled for May 29-30, 2025, in its capital, Astana, the forum will convene over 5,000 high-level delegates, including heads of state and senior representatives from international organizations and businesses, for global dialogue and partnerships to shape a more interconnected and sustainable future. Transport and Trade Kazakhstan is globally recognized as a major transit route and a key trade hub, offering a pivotal land bridge for the flow of goods across the vast Eurasian continent. Its extensive transportation network, comprising road, rail, and sea routes, connects major Asian economies, like China and India, to Europe and links the landlocked region of Central Asia to global markets.
Across Kazakhstan and in connected regions, international transport corridors have bolstered trade and spurred economic expansion. Last year, Kazakhstan handled a total of 1 billion tons of cargo, a 10% increase from the same period of 2023, a clear indicator of the international community’s confidence in Kazakhstan’s transit capabilities and its strategic geographical positioning. One of the most significant trade corridors through Kazakhstan, the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), also known as the Middle Corridor, connects Southeast Asia and China with Europe, passing through Kazakhstan, the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and then on to Tǘrkiye and Europe.
“Every year we see the growing role and importance of the Middle Corridor,” says Nurgul Zhakupova, Acting Secretary General of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route. By facilitating easier and faster movement of goods across Eurasia, the TITR and wider transport network are reaffirming Kazakhstan as an essential hub in global supply chains. The volume of goods transported via the TITR in 2024 reached 4.
5 million tons, an 62% increase from 2023. “Expanding capacity is necessary for our future development,” says Zhakupova, adding that the target is to reach an annual throughput capacity of 10 million tons of cargo and 300,000 TEU containers by 2030, up from the current throughput capacity of around six million tons and 100,000 containers, respectively. Benefiting from the strategic alliance between Kazakhstan Temir Zholy National Rail, Georgian Railway, and Azerbaijan Railway, that established the Middle Corridor Multimodal LTD.
, the TITR has grown into a multimodal service involving 27 companies from 11 countries. “We are currently working to expand our network of cooperation and are actively developing the integration of TITR with the European Union transport system,” says Zhakupova, revealing that efforts are ongoing to engage transport and logistic companies from European Union. One of the key drivers of the TITR’s growing importance is its ability to offer a faster and more efficient transportation option compared to traditional maritime routes.
In addition, with increasing uncertainties in global trade, including political tensions and trade disputes, the TITR offers a more politically neutral and stable route. Efficiency and Sustainability Emphasizing the strength of collaboration, Kazakhstan and fellow TITR members are upgrading existing infrastructure, modernizing locomotives and cars, and integrating rail, road, and maritime transport into a single, cohesive network to ensure a seamless multimodal transport network. This comprehensive approach streamlines the flow of goods across the corridor and boosts trade efficiency and aligns with broader sustainability goals.
“We as an association position ourselves as a green corridor,” says Zhakupova. “Environmental sustainability and the transition to clean energy sources have become key areas for development among our members.” The Georgian Railway, she adds, is already 100% electrified, and there are plans to increase the electrification of the Azerbaijan Railway and Kazakhstan Temir Zholy National Rail from their current 50% and 35%, respectively.
Highlighting Kazakhstan’s role in environmental stewardship, the country’s Aktau Seaport was awarded EcoPort status by the European Sea Ports Organization, making it one of three ports along the TITR with this status alongside Azerbaijan’s Port of Baku. Additionally, in 2023, Kazakhstan signed an agreement with Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan to create a project aimed at exporting green energy to Europe, thereby promoting greener transit options and tapping into Kazakhstan’s renewable energy potential. Kazakhstan’s commitment to environmental action and sustainability is further evidenced by the government’s ambitious policy goal to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060, aligning with global efforts to combat climate change.
As exemplified by the TITR, ambitious transport initiatives undertaken by Kazakhstan and its neighbors are enhancing the efficiency and sustainability of goods transportation. And with the Astana International Forum set to advance conversations around trade and commerce, the region is readying itself for a new era of interconnectedness. Click here to learn more about the Astana International Forum 2025 and Kazakhstan’s growing significance in the global logistics landscape.
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