Astana, Jul 2 (EFE).- Kazakhstan, the largest country in Central Asia by both territory and economy, is aiming to maintain its leadership in attracting foreign investment across the region, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said on Thursday, stressing that the country will continue strengthening its highly efficient logistics and transportation sectors.
“The cumulative volume of foreign direct investment has surpassed $150 billion, accounting for nearly 70 percent of all investment in the region. Our political stability underpins these economic achievements,” Tokayev said during the plenary session of the Foreign Investors’ Council.
Addressing investors, the president highlighted the transportation and logistics sector as a key component of Kazakhstan’s long-term development strategy.
“To further strengthen our position, we are making substantial investments in transportation infrastructure, including the construction of thousands of kilometers of new railways, as well as the development of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, known as the Middle Corridor,” he said.
According to Tokayev, Kazakhstan has invested more than $35 billion in transportation and logistics infrastructure over the past 15 years.
The president reaffirmed his commitment to transforming Kazakhstan into the region’s leading logistics hub linking Europe and Asia.
Thirteen major international transportation corridors currently pass through the country, making it a vital link in transcontinental supply chains.
Kazakh authorities also note that approximately 85 percent of all rail freight traffic between China and Europe passes through Kazakhstan.
Unified Smart Cargo digital platform
Tokayev said the country is actively implementing digital technologies, citing the rollout of the unified Smart Cargo digital platform late last year.
The platform serves as a one-stop shop for customs, logistics and commercial services, significantly reducing administrative barriers and transit times.
In its first phase, transit operations along the China-Uzbekistan route have already been fully digitized, and border-crossing procedures have been converted to an electronic format, making international freight transportation faster, more transparent and more predictable, according to Astana. EFE