BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 23. Kazakhstan and the
European Union have signed a comprehensive package of strategic
aviation and infrastructure agreements to expand transit
connectivity along the Middle Corridor network, the press service
of Kazakh president says.
"In the presence of Head of State Kassym-Jomart Tokayev,
President of the European Council António Costa and President of
the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, a ceremony for
signing a number of documents was held," the statement reads.
According to the official decree, a central component of the
transport package is a new intergovernmental agreement between
Kazakhstan and the European Union covering specific aspects of air
services, which was paired with a major commercial order by
national carrier Air Astana for up to 50 advanced Airbus
aircraft.
On the overland logistics front, the European Investment Bank
signed a major financing agreement with state operator KazAvtoZhol
dedicated exclusively to rehabilitating regional highways that form
integral segments of the Trans-Caspian International Transport
Route.
To accelerate digital integration along these transit arteries,
the Ministry of Transport and the European Bank for Reconstruction
and Development (EBRD) signed a memorandum to deploy intelligent
transport systems and allocate a dedicated grant for the
implementation of the "E-zholdary" digital platform.
Furthermore, the Ministry of Industry and Construction finalized
a separate cooperation framework with the EBRD to draft a
comprehensive feasibility study for establishing a new Center of
Excellence in the minerals and metals sector.
