Kazakhstan signs agreements worth $462 mln for developing TITR
ASTANA. June 23 (Interfax) - Kazakhstan has signed agreements worth $462 million for the development of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR) at a business forum in Brussels, the press service of the national railway operator Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (Kazakhstan Railways, KTZ) said.
"The practical outcome of the forum was the conclusion of four agreements totaling $462 million, aimed at strengthening transport connectivity between Europe and Asia and further developing the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route," KTZ said in a statement following the forum, titled "Strengthening Kazakhstan-EU Connectivity: Prospects and Strategic Potential of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route."
Among the agreements signed was a memorandum of cooperation on comprehensive digitalization of state airports, including the introduction of biometric identification, between Swiss-based SITA (Societe Internationale de Telecommunications Aeronautiques, which provides telecommunications and IT services in the aviation industry) and the Kazakh Transport Ministry.
Kazavtozhol, the national road operator, and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) signed a loan agreement for the reconstruction of the Aktobe-Ulgaisyn highway. The loan amount is not specified.
KTZ Express, a KTZ subsidiary, signed an agreement with Midia Marine Terminal, which operates an offshore oil terminal located 8.6 kilometers east of the Port of Midia on Romania's Black Sea coast, to implement a joint project at the Port of Midia. "The project will expand the route's infrastructure capabilities on the Black Sea and improve cargo handling efficiency," the press service said.
In addition, KTZ Express and Denmark's A.P. Moller - Maersk reached agreements on developing container shipments along the Trans-Caspian route and increasing cargo flows along the corridor.
The Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, also known as the Middle Corridor, connects China and Europe through Kazakhstan, the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey.
KTZ is a transport and logistics holding company and is the operator of Kazakhstan's main railway network. The sole shareholder of the company is the Samruk-Kazyna state fund. KTZ Express specializes in multimodal transportation and international cargo delivery. It operates in the markets of China, Central Asia, Europe, Turkey and the Middle East.
