Qaztrade proposes to use Middle Corridor (TITR) capacities to optimize supply chains
QazTrade took part in the annual conference Black and Caspian Sea Ports & Shipping 2022, which is taking place these days in Georgia, Shekvetili. The conference is devoted to the prospects for the development of the transport and communication complex of the Caspian region and the potential of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR or Middle Corridor) with the full support of members of the International Association “Trans-Caspian International Transport Route”.
Representatives of international and regional organizations in the field of transport and logistics of 22 countries, as well as participants in the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, discussed current topics and problems of global and regional trade and investment. The issues included the development of rail transport and cargo transportation, strengthening the resilience and ensuring the safety of transport, new approaches in strengthening the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), containerization of supplies and progress in digitalization and technologies for transport infrastructure, etc.
Azamat Askaruly, Chief Executive Officer of JSC “Center for Development of Trade Policy “QazTrade” took part in the forum.
Speaking to the participants of the forum Azamat Askaruly noted that “Caspian region plays an important role in the formation of commodity flows, being the only sea gateway for Kazakhstan, and provides further access to major sea trade lines”.
In the current geopolitical conditions, opportunities for the development of transit corridors and transport infrastructure are opening up for the participants of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route. For the 1st quarter of 2022, rolled metal products became a new commodity for TITR, negotiations are underway on the supply of grain, flour, copper through this route in the near future.
Chief Executive Officer emphasized that activation of transport communication in the Caspian direction will be promoted by attracting global players – global transport companies, integration of electronic customs administration system along the whole route, uniting efforts for backloading from Europe, as well as providing access to the infrastructure of the Black Sea ports.
Port capacities along the TITR route, for example, the port of Batumi, already allow increasing transshipment volumes. And significantly optimize the supply chains of goods both from Kazakhstan to the European direction and back,” said QazTrade CEO.
For Kazakhstan, the intensification of TITR with access to world markets through the Black Sea ports is a two-way trade road. In the conditions of difficulties with traditional logistics corridors, the trans-Caspian route is the shortest and economically profitable way both for exporting our goods to European countries and for importing goods relevant to our manufacturers to Kazakhstan. This will make it possible not to stop the work on integrating Kazakhstan into global production chains and continue projects on international industrial cooperation. The Head of State has set this task for the Government,” Askaruly summed up.
Within the framework of the Forum, a visit to the seaports of Poti and Batumi was organized, during which the participants of the event got acquainted with the capacities of the ports and the prospects for their development.
Port of Batumi:
Capacity – 230K TEU (twenty-foot equivalent unit)
The area is 14 hectares.
Processed more than 120K TEUs in 2021.
There are 2 mobile cranes, a ferry bridge – 1. Terminal equipment.
Port of Poti:
Capacity: 330К TEU (twenty-foot equivalent unit)
The area is 35 hectares.
Processed 1.7 million tons of bulk cargo in 2021.
There are 5 mooring cranes.
Work is underway to expand the territory and increase the capacity to 1 million TEU and 5 million tons of bulk cargo.
