ASTANA, Kazakhstan, April 12. Kazakhstan's Minister of Transport, Marat Karabayev expressed gratitude to the Organization of Turkic States for the event's organization and Türkiye for its hospitality at the 4th Antalya Diplomatic Forum and shared major updates on the growing Trans-Caspian International Transport Corridor (Middle Corridor), Trend reports.
In his speech, Karabayev announced a dramatic increase in the volume of goods transported via the Middle Corridor, which has surged from 800,000 tons in 2021 to 2.5 million tons in 2024 - representing a sevenfold rise. Looking forward, Kazakhstan is targeting 10 million tons by 2027, with potential to reach 15 million tons by 2030.
The Minister also outlined several new initiatives aimed at boosting the corridor's capacity and expanding its role beyond transportation.
These include:
Fiber Optic Cable Projects: Kazakhstan has started constructing a fiber optic cable through the Caspian Sea, complementing a similar project by Azerbaijan and Georgia through the Black Sea. This will enhance digital connectivity alongside physical infrastructure.
Renewable Energy Export: Kazakhstan is partnering with Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan on a project to lay a cable under the Caspian Sea for the export of renewable energy to Europe. With Kazakhstan currently generating 2.7 GW of renewable energy and plans for an additional 8 GW, this initiative could significantly contribute to Europe's energy supply.
Hydrogen Production Initiative: Kazakhstan is launching a large-scale hydrogen production project in the country's west, which aims to produce 2 million tons of hydrogen by 2030, along with 40 GW of electricity. Valued at €50 billion, this ambitious project is set to be one of the region’s most significant.
Karabayev, quoting President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, called the Middle Corridor not just a transportation route, but a “green corridor” connecting Asia and Europe. He reaffirmed Kazakhstan's aspiration to become a regional hub between the two continents.