Uzbekistan’s Transport Minister Discusses Development of Transport Corridors with Kazakhstan Rail Officials

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — On 7 December, a working meeting took place at the Saryagash station of Kazakhstan Railways, where Ilhom Mahkamov, Minister of Transport of the Republic of Uzbekistan, met with senior officials of the railway administrations of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.

The main topic of the discussions was strengthening cooperation in the railway sector and developing transport and logistics corridors between the two countries.

The parties reviewed trends in freight transportation, infrastructure modernization, and prospects for expanding transit routes. Special attention was given to the implementation of digital solutions aimed at increasing the capacity of existing lines and optimizing logistics processes.

The Kazakh side noted a rapid growth in freight volumes to Uzbekistan, driven by a favorable investment climate, active economic liberalization, and large-scale reforms in recent years. A significant contribution to the increased cargo flow came from grain shipments: the volume of grain transported to Uzbekistan rose by 34% compared to last year, which allowed an increase in train exchanges at key junction stations by 35–40%.

Growth was also observed in other transport directions. Over the past 12 months, the total volume of rail freight between the two countries increased by more than 12%. Transit of Uzbek export cargo through Kazakhstan grew by 15%, including expanded routes toward China and the Caspian region. Container transportation under joint logistics schemes increased by approximately 18%, stimulating demand for rapid multimodal supply chains.

Investments in infrastructure modernization at border sections exceeded $200 million, enhancing line capacity and reducing train processing times.

The meeting emphasized that the sustained growth of mutual freight traffic and economic activity provides a reliable foundation for further expansion of Central Asian transport corridors and attracting new international cargo flows.

Following the discussions, the parties agreed to continue regular dialogue and develop a joint roadmap for infrastructure development, process optimization, and increasing the region’s transit potential.