Logistics And Transport Competitiveness In Kazakhstan

Improving the competitiveness of Kazakhstan as a transport logistics centre at the crossroads of Europe and Asia could enable the country to unlock significant untapped benefits of growing cargo flows between the two continents. This study identifies the transport infrastructure and services available in Kazakhstan, reviews the country's extensive recent and future transport investments, and sets out recommendations to ensure its transport network is ready to harness the growth in inland transport from rising East-West trade, particularly in the context of the Belt and Road Initiative, within which Kazakhstan could occupy a strategic geographical position. To further capitalize on Kazakhstan's pivotal role in Euro-Asian transport logistics, this study also presents the benefits of adhering to and implementing the full spectrum of UN Transport Conventions and Legal Instruments administered by UNECE, and through its continued participation in UNECE initiatives such as the Euro-Asian Transport Links project. The study also highlights strengthening the harmonization of legislation as one of the most important conditions for the development of the transport infrastructure of Kazakhstan and the broader region, of which Kazakhstan is a member.

Improving the competitiveness of Kyrgyzstan as a transport logistics centre at the crossroads of Europe and Asia could enable the country to unlock significant untapped benefits of growing cargo flows between the two continents. This study identifies the transport infrastructure and services available in Kyrgyzstan, reviews the country’s extensive recent and future transport investments, and sets out recommendations to ensure its transport network is ready to harness the growth in inland transport from rising East-West trade, particularly in the context of the Belt and Road Initiative, within which Kyrgyzstan could occupy a strategic geographical position. To further capitalize on Kyrgyzstan's pivotal role in Euro-Asian transport logistics, this study also presents the benefits of adhering to and implementing the full spectrum of UN Transport Conventions and Legal Instruments administered by UNECE, and through its continued participation in UNECE initiatives such as the Euro-Asian Transport Links project. The study also highlights strengthening the harmonization of legislation as one of the most important conditions for the development of the transport infrastructure of Kyrgyzstan and the broader region, of which Kyrgyzstan is a member.

Improving the competitiveness of Kyrgyzstan as a transport logistics centre at the crossroads of Europe and Asia could enable the country to unlock significant untapped benefits of growing cargo flows between the two continents. This study identifies the transport infrastructure and services available in Kyrgyzstan, reviews the country's extensive recent and future transport investments, and sets out recommendations to ensure its transport network is ready to harness the growth in inland transport from rising East-West trade, particularly in the context of the Belt and Road Initiative, within which Kyrgyzstan could occupy a strategic geographical position. To further capitalize on Kyrgyzstan's pivotal role in Euro-Asian transport logistics, this study also presents the benefits of adhering to and implementing the full spectrum of UN Transport Conventions and Legal Instruments administered by UNECE, and through its continued participation in UNECE initiatives such as the Euro-Asian Transport Links project. The study also highlights strengthening the harmonization of legislation as one of the most important conditions for the development of the transport infrastructure of Kyrgyzstan and the broader region, of which Kyrgyzstan is a member.

Kazakhstan's trade performance can grow by focusing on its domestic capacity to trade, according to a survey of companies and state agencies undertaken by ITC and the UN Economic Commission for Europe. Those surveyed seek stronger trade regulations and procedures, better transport and logistical services, and infrastructure for standardization, quality assurance, accreditation and metrology. Capacity building and enhanced public-private sector consultation would benefit state agencies, exporting and importing companies, transport and logistics providers. Technical requirements and conformity assessment are top reported obstacles by Kazakh companies. Rules and certificates of origin challenge manufacturing exporters, while quantitative restrictions affect agro-food exporters.

This report is an assessment and strategy to help Kazakhstan enhance the competitiveness of non-energy sectors including agribusiness, fertilizers, logistics, business services and information technology.

The Cooperation Council of Turkic Speaking States (the Turkic Council - TC) was established in 2009 as an intergovernmental organization to promote multilateral cooperation among Turkic Speaking States. The four founding member states of the TC are Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkey. In addition, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan are two possible future members of the council. This study aims to investigate the infrastructural investment, trade, logistics and transportation potential of the mentioned countries as well as elaborate these activities among the TC’s current and possible future members. For this purpose, firstly, present situation of the trade among the Council’s current and possible future members has been examined. At this point, it is made clear that the trade volume among these six states is not as much as expected, but it is open to healing. Later, the opportunities and the last developments that may increase the trade volume among the TC’s current and possible future members in line with advancement of their infrastructural potential are explored. In reality, the geographic location of these states is very good. Namely, they are on the old trade route known as the Silk Road channels; however, this road was not active for a long time. Recently, this ancient trade route between East and West was aimed to be revived by China. Besides, India is keen to develop another approach of the Silk Road under the International North South Transportation Corridor (INSTC) initiative. In fact, these are great opportunities for the TC’s current and possible future members. That is, there is a very large volume of trade between China and Europe, and currently almost all of this trade is done through sea transport. Hence, if even a small part of this trade is transported by the Chinese Initiative of the Silk Road, its contribution to the current and potential future members of the TC and their integration into each other will be great. However, at this point, there are some tasks that current and potential members of the TC must complete to mobilize the Silk Roads. In fact, opening of Baku-Tbilisi-Kars (BTK) rail link recently was an important step to make it active, but this is not fully enough. In this work, it is also aimed to set out these tasks from the perspective of each current and potential member. Finally, with the help of this review, the limitations and problems of each state’s infrastructural investment, trade, transport and logistics system have been put forward for improvement studies.

Abstract: This empirical paper sheds light on a significant element of the debate of whether infrastructure services have a strong impact on economic development by exploring the impact of innovative road freight services on downstream business users. The paper uses a new and purpose-specific survey of 165 logistics service providers and 493 user enterprises in food processing, food distribution, and the automotive industry in the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Poland. The main findings are that there are substantial downstream benefits from innovations in road freight services, both dampening cost increases and raising sales revenues of business users. The additional finding that increased intensity of competition in road freight services is significantly associated with the provision of innovative services suggests that easing any remaining barriers to competition in upstream business sectors should be a priority.