South Caucasus transport corridor development can transform Kazakhstan into trade hub
Kazakhstan, Astana, May 22 / Trend D. Mukhtarov /
The development of the transport corridor through the South Caucasus will promote the transformation of Kazakhstan into an international trading and logistics hub, the vice-president of the Asian Development Bank, Lakshmi Venkatachalam, believes.
Speaking at the 25th meeting of the Foreign Investors' Council, dedicated to 'Kazakhstan - international trade, logistics, business and financial hub', Venkatachalam urged Kazakhstan to attract Azerbaijani and Georgian companies for these purposes.
In addition and in her view this corridor can be brought not only to China, but also further to India.
"We believe the Kazakh government and Kazakhstan Railways need to work closely with the major companies that have global expertise in logistic integration for such a long logistics corridor," Venkatachalam said.
She said logistics companies should be allowed to operate trains and not just individual wagons in Kazakhstan. In addition, Venkatachalam advised transferring the management and concessional rights for the Aktau sea port to a world renowned international operator.
She said such an operator could attract customers to participate in the corridor.
