Kazakhstan proposes joint port upgrades with SCO partners

Kazakh Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov has proposed that Shanghai Cooperation Organisation partners jointly modernise seaports and dry ports and expand their capacity, Interfax reported.

He presented the proposal at the SCO Council of Heads of Government meeting in Dushanbe on October 20. Bektenov linked further trade growth to stronger transport connections and implementation of the port and logistics centre development plan through 2030 adopted at the Bishkek summit.

The prime minister suggested testing this cooperation on the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route. He said annual freight volumes on the route were planned to reach 10 million tonnes.

Bektenov also called for systematic talks on integrating the Belt and Road Initiative with existing and prospective regional transport corridors. He proposed including the main objectives for a unified transport network in the transport connectivity strategy through 2035.