President Nazarbayev and President Berdymukhamedov symbolically tighten the final nuts and bolts on the new line linking Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan
Presidents of Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan Open New Railway Line A major step forward in transport communications in Central Asia was made on May 11, when President Nursultan Nazarbayev of Kazakhstan and President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov of Turkmenistan symbolically tightened the final nuts and bolts on the railway line linking the two countries. When the whole line is completed between Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Iran it will have a huge impact on the economy of the region. Initially, the new line will be used for transporting cargo between the two states, as well as for loads transiting the region. In time, passenger trains will also run on the line. This will save a great deal of time, as well as opening up a transit corridor to the Persian Gulf, which has huge potential for improving trade in the Central Asian region. It has taken six years to get to the present stage. In 2007, the Presidents of Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Iran signed the document which gave the go-ahead to the project, and construction of the line began in 2009. When completed, the line will go from Uzen in Kazakhstan, through Bereket in Turkmenistan and on to Gorgan in Iran. But in time the plan is to link this line with a much wider network, opening up the markets of Central Asia, the Middle East and Europe. And, as President Nazarbayev pointed out, this is an idea which has become even more relevant now than it was when the first plans were drawn up.
Uzen
“The center of gravity of world trade, just like production already has, is shifting to Asia, which increases the importance of having access to Asian markets. What is more, the economies of Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan have shown a steady growth in recent years. But neither Kazakhstan nor Turkmenistan have direct access to the sea. So the industrial potential which we have built up has meant that we have had to look for new markets,� the President said. President Nazarbayev went on to say that even the section of the line which has now been opened has already created new opportunities for businesses in Kazakhstan, which should stimulate trade and economic growth.
ASTANA CALLING / ISSUE 304 / 2
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