Kazakhstan plans to redirect export and transit cargo to Europe via Latvia and the Trans-Caspian route

NUR SULTAN - Kazakhstan plans to redirect export and transit cargo to Latvian ports and along the Trans-Caspian transport route, which Kazakhstan is developing with Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey to connect with the European Union (EU), Kazakhstan's Minister of Industry and Infrastructure Development Kairbek Uskenbaev said during a government meeting on Tuesday.

"We have developed alternative routes and corridors for export and transit cargo transportation," said Uskenbaev, explaining that his ministry is working to prevent supply chain disruptions by redirecting export cargo to Latvian ports - Liepaja, Riga and Ventspils, as well as via the Trans-Caspian international transport route.

He added that Kazakhstan has agreed with Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey to set up a joint venture to operate the Trans-Caspian international transport route, similar to a joint transport and logistics company.

The Ministry of Industry and Infrastructure of Kazakhstan informed that the multimodal Trans-Caspian international transport route to the EU will be from Aktau by ferry to Baku, and then by rail from Azerbaijan to the Georgia ports of Batumi and Poti, as well on the Baku-Tbilisi-Kar rail line to the Turkish ports of Istanbul and Mersin.