Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan Olzhas Bektenov, speaking at an expanded meeting of the Government chaired by President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, reported on the measures being taken to develop transport and logistics infrastructure and enhance the country’s transit potential.

“This year, we will complete the construction of two railway lines with a total length of 475 km and the modernization of 2,900 km of railway tracks. This will increase transit freight volumes by 60%, while the speed of transit container trains will reach 50 km/h. For example, by the end of this year, cargo delivery time from the border of the People’s Republic of China to the Caspian Sea will be reduced from 84 hours to 55 hours. Construction and reconstruction works will be carried out on 11,000 kilometers of roads,” Olzhas Bektenov emphasized.

At the same time, a number of factors constraining the dynamic development of transit potential were identified. One of them remains the high level of wear and tear of railway infrastructure. In this regard, the implementation of a comprehensive program to modernize the main railway network is under the constant supervision of the Government. Attention was also paid to the development of the aviation sector, including infrastructure.

“This year, we will begin construction of a second runway at Astana Airport. Commissioning of the second runway will make it possible to start major repairs of the first runway, which has not undergone capital renovation for more than 20 years. This will increase the capacity of the capital’s airport fourfold, to 40 million passengers. In July of this year, reconstruction of the domestic terminal at Almaty Airport will be completed, increasing its capacity from 14 million to 19 million passengers. Construction and installation works to modernize the runway will also begin,” the Prime Minister noted.

In addition, following the President’s instructions, conditions have been created for market-based pricing of aviation fuel. As a result, the price of aviation fuel has decreased from USD 1,200 to approximately USD 950, increasing the attractiveness of Kazakhstan’s airspace for foreign airlines.