The Ministers of Transport of Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, Ilkhom Makhkamov and Marat Karabayev held a meeting to explore the ways to discuss collaboration and advance joint projects, emphasizing their shared commitment to enhancing transport connectivity between the two countries.

They focused on the Darbaza and Maktaaral railway project. This project, once realized, promises to raise the transport capacity by an additional 10 mln tons, heralding a new era of efficiency in cross-border logistics.

The parties reiterated their commitment to the Intergovernmental Agreement on International Road Transport, which serves as the cornerstone for facilitating the seamless movement of goods between the two countries.

Civil aviation emerged as a pivotal facet of the transport infrastructure, symbolizing the epitome of connectivity. Currently, with 37 weekly flights connecting cities in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, the aviation sector stands as a vital conduit for fostering economic and cultural exchange. Negotiations held last year in Tashkent paved the way for an expansion in flight frequencies, demonstrating a shared vision for broadening air connectivity between the two nations.

An initiative discussed during the meeting was the Termez-Mazar-e-Sharif-Kabul-Peshawar railway project. Kazakhstan pledged its support to this project by offering materials for the railway tracks. Minister Karabayev emphasized the potential of this initiative to catalyze regional trade and connectivity by providing access to key seaports in South Asia.

Furthermore, the meeting culminated in the signing of a comprehensive Roadmap for the development of strategic cooperation in transport and logistics between Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan for the years 2024-2025. This roadmap outlines a framework for collaborative endeavors aimed at furthering transport connectivity and bolstering economic ties.