Mangystau Region Commences Multi-billion Dollar Investment in Infrastructure Developments
Kazakhstan's Mangystau Region Roars into Action with $3.6 Billion Infrastructure Boost
astana - It's all systems go in Kazakhstan's Mangystau Region as the country marches forward with a whopping 24 infrastructure projects worth a staggering 1.9 trillion tenge (that's around $3.6 billion in U.S. dollars). That’s the big announcement from Transport Minister Marat Karabayev to President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev during his visit to Aktau International Sea Port, according to Akorda. Let’s dive into the details!
Credit: The Astana Times
By 2028, the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route aims to quadruple its cargo transportation volume to a mind-boggling 10 million tons. You read that right! This route, launched in 2014, saw a remarkable surge in 2024, with a 62% increase to 4.5 million tons, moving 358 container trains and a staggering 27,000 vehicles. Incredible stuff!
To keep up with this explosive growth, a container hub is under construction in the bustling Aktau. It's set to supercharge the port's capacity from the existing 140,000 to 240,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU). That's a whole lot of goods moving quickly!
In response to President Tokayev's orders, construction has officially begun on a brand-new airport in the picturesque Kendirli resort area. The airport, set up to handle 150 passengers per hour, will see regular flights between Kendirli, Almaty, and Astana in the future.
Meanwhile, major road infrastructure projects are also underway, including the Center-West and Beineu-Saksaul. These uber-sized projects promise to slash travel distances by a whopping 800 kilometers between Astana and Aktau, and a whopping 900 kilometers from Khorgos to Aktau. That means faster cargo logistics and cheaper transportation costs for transit and export cargo!
President Tokayev graced Aktau with his presence to review the unfolding transport and logistics infrastructure development. He took a keen interest in the region's potential to transform Kazakhstan into a full-fledged Eurasian transport and logistics hub. And he didn't hold back on pushing for speedier airport construction!
To achieve that, he called for a lightning-fast implementation of projects aimed at enhancing road, rail, and port infrastructure. "This year, we'll wrap up the repair of the Kuryk-Zhetybay highway, and we need to explore the potential of the transport route towards Turkmenistan," Tokayev revealed, adding, "Let's kick off the repairs on road sections linking Zhanaozen to Turkmenistan's border via Kendirli."
In other news, Akorda reports that 125 railway stations across the country are scheduled to undergo a modernization makeover, with Mangystau, Beineu, and Shetpe all on the list. Improved accessibility for passengers with limited mobility is, of course, a key part of the upgrades.
The President's whirlwind tour continued with a visit to Aktau's first wholesale distribution center, spread across an impressive 80,000 square meters and boasting a storage capacity of 40,000 tons. Bolstered by investments totaling five billion tenge (or no less than $9.5 million), this colossal center has food security, fewer middlemen, and lower prices at its core. A second phase is set to launch by the end of the year.
Tokayev also swung by the Technology Park at the Caspian University of Technology and Engineering, named after Shahmardan Yessenov. This hub is geared up to empower entrepreneurs, students, and schoolchildren alike, serving as an innovation powerhouse for startup projects.
Sports fans, fear not! Tokayev also paid a visit to the stunning BS Arena sports complex, designed to host international and national sports competitions, as well as cultural events.
During a meeting centering on the region's socio-economic development, Tokayev struck a hopeful note about the Aktau Seaport special economic zone (SEZ) becoming a veritable engine of business growth. Currently, a whopping 22 projects are in the works, collectively amounting to an awe-inspiring 337 billion tenge (or over $644.1 million), half of which are foreign funds! The SEZ's territory is set to balloon sevenfold this year, stretching from its current 3,700 hectares to a mighty 26,500 hectares. Look forward to projects centered around consumer and food production gaining new ground!
Tourism has also been put firmly in the spotlight, with Tokayev singling out Aktau's gem-like qualities as the gateway to a flourishing sector. "Sea tourism is a lucrative opportunity due to the proximity of ports in five countries and its accessibility from major cities with populations over 10 million in Russia, Iran, and the Caucasus region." Beyond that, transit air corridors from bustling cities like Istanbul, Antalya, London, Moscow, Astrakhan, Tbilisi, Baku, and more, intersect here. What does this mean? It's all systems go for an active growth spurt in the tourism sector!
Our fearless leader underlined the paramount importance of building a fresh seaport in Aktau and refurbishing existing berths to accommodate passenger liners. Our man Tokayev also hammered home the need to attract private investment to the region's tourism sector, so pack your bags and get ready to explore this vibrant region with a booming future!
- The whirlwind tour of President Tokayev included a visit to the Technology Park in Astana, underscoring the government's emphasis on technology and innovation.
- The Mangystau Region's Aktau International Sea Port is undergoing an extensive upgrade, with a new container hub planned to enhance its capacity to 240,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU).
- To align with the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route's ambitious goal of quadrupling cargo transportation by 2028, Kazakhstan is investing heavily in high-tech infrastructure projects across the region, including sports facilities like the BS Arena.
