Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan Strengthen Cooperation on North-South Corridor Development
Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan are intensifying their collaboration to advance the eastern route of the North-South corridor, which facilitates cargo transit through Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan to Pakistan and India.
In a recent bilateral meeting, Kazakhstan’s Deputy Prime Minister Serik Zhumangarin and Mammetkhan Chakyev, Director General of the Agency for Transport and Communications under the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan, discussed opportunities for enhancing cooperation in the transport sector.
In July 2024, a roadmap was signed by Kazakhstan, Russia, Iran, and Turkmenistan to synchronously develop the North-South corridor. A key decision was made to utilize the western branch of the Trans-Afghan Railway. Kazakhstan has expressed its willingness to work with Turkmenistan and Afghanistan on the construction of the Afghan railway sections “Turgundi-Herat-Kandahar-Spin-Buldak.” Kazakhstan will contribute by supplying track materials, including sleepers, rails, and fasteners.
The meeting also addressed the details of constructing the Turgundi-Herat railway and the potential for boosting cargo deliveries towards China via Turgundi. Both sides emphasized the importance of creating competitive tariff conditions along the China-Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan-Iran corridor and the North-South route. In this context, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and Russia have agreed to establish a unified logistics operator on the eastern branch to ensure seamless cargo transportation.
