Tokayev proposes launching Kazakhstan-Russia pilot digital transport corridor

ASTANA. July 27 (Interfax) - Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has suggested launching a Kazakhstan-Russia pilot digital transport corridor on one of the busiest routes.

"Based on existing digital platforms, we propose launching a pilot project of the Kazakhstan-Russia digital transport corridor on one of the busiest routes. I am confident that effective digital integration of the two countries' transport and logistics systems and the widespread use of new technologies will enable us to raise mutual trade, boost transit flows, and comprehensively strengthen economic ties. A significant event was the first run of unmanned trucks between our countries, which took place during [Russian President] Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin's state visit to Kazakhstan in May. This successful experiment convincingly demonstrated that the Kazakh-Russian partnership in transport is confidently reaching a new technological level," Tokayev said at the Kazakh-Russian Interregional Cooperation Forum in Omsk.

Tokayev's speech was distributed by his press service on Saturday evening.

He said that the forum's topic is of exceptional importance in the current international context. Kazakhstan and Russia, which share the longest continuous land border in the world, are destined for a leading role in developing the transport and logistics architecture of the Eurasian continent, Tokayev said.

"This is a key factor in the global competitiveness of our countries in current highly complex geopolitical conditions. Through joint efforts, we are addressing all challenges in this area, consistently developing infrastructure, and strengthening transit potential," he said.

The rail freight traffic between Kazakhstan and Russia rose 3.5% to 92 million tonnes last year, Tokayev said.

"Transit traffic through Kazakhstan is also actively developing. In the last five years alone, container traffic across Kazakhstan along the China-Russia-China route has increased eightfold. A significant milestone was the shipment of the one-millionth container on the Russia-Kazakhstan-China route. Clearly, this is not the limit of our capabilities. Road traffic is also showing dramatic growth, reaching nearly 8.5 million tonnes in 2025. In the first quarter of this year, it more than doubled to 4.3 million tonnes compared to the same period last year. I am confident that this impressive growth will be maintained as a result of systematic joint efforts in this area," he said.

Tokayev also underscored the focus on developing the North-South transport corridor, which saw an increase in traffic last year.

He also named the Western Europe-Western China transport corridor as another vital route. The reconstruction of the Aktobe-Ulgaysyn highway will double its capacity, Tokayev said.