New transport and trade opportunities between Central Asia and Europe

On June 12-13, 2023, a business mission from representatives of the transport industry and business circles of the five Central Asian republics was in Latvia.

The business mission was organized by the USAID Central Asia Trade Program, the TRACECA Intergovernmental Commission, the Union of Transport Workers of Kazakhstan "KAZLOGISTICS" in cooperation with the Ministry of Transport of Latvia, the Latvian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, associations of stevedoring companies and logistics, as well as road carriers.

During the business forum “Development of Trans-Caspian Trade Route: New Opportunities between Central Asia and Europe”, representatives of the transport industry from Central Asian countries discussed with their Latvian colleagues the prospects for expanding and strengthening cooperation in the transit and transport sector, logistics and trade. The participants of the event were presented with the possibilities of international multimodal freight transportation along the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route.

The Latvian side, in turn, introduced the infrastructure capabilities of Latvia and the implementation of the largest railway project in the Baltic region, Rail Baltica.

The Kazakh delegation at the Forum was represented by the Vice Minister of Industry and Infrastructure Development Almaz Idyrysov, who made a presentation on “Transportation between Central Asia and Baltic countries: challenges and opportunities”.

As a result of the business forum, the Union of Transport Workers of Kazakhstan "KAZLOGISTICS", the Latvian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, associations of stevedoring companies and road carriers signed a memorandum of cooperation aimed at promoting the development of international road freight and multimodal transportation along the Trans-Caspian international transport route.

With the support of the Embassy of Kazakhstan in Latvia, separate bilateral meetings were organized for Kazakh participants with Latvian partners interested in cooperation with our country in various sectors of the economy.

Participants of the business mission on June 13 visited the ports of Riga and Liepaja.