BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 24. Construction of the
Baqty multimodal dry port and logistics park has officially begun
in the Makanshy district of Kazakhstan's Abai Region, the region's
administration announced.
Speaking at the foundation-laying ceremony, Akim of Abai Region
Berik Uali said that the project would strengthen not only the
transport and logistics capacity of Abai Region but also
Kazakhstan's position as a key Eurasian transit hub.
"The Head of State has identified strengthening Kazakhstan's
role as a leading transit hub in Eurasia and expanding the
country's transit potential as strategic priorities. The Baqty
project is an important step toward achieving these goals. This dry
port will become a new point of economic growth, integrating
international trade, transport and logistics, attracting
investment, supporting business development and boosting the export
potential of border areas," he said.
According to the regional administration, the Baqty dry port
will become the third railway border crossing between Kazakhstan
and China after Dostyk and Khorgos. The new logistics hub is
expected to increase the capacity of the Kazakhstan-China border by
an additional 20-25 million tons of cargo annually, reducing
pressure on the existing crossings.
The terminal is designed to handle up to one million containers
per year, with annual throughput projected to reach 700,000
containers by 2032.
The first phase of the project will attract $210 million in
private investment and create 200 jobs. Construction will provide
employment for between 800 and 1,200 people, while the completed
facility is expected to generate 500-1,000 permanent jobs. A
further 1,500-2,000 jobs are expected to emerge in related service
industries.
The logistics complex will include container and grain
terminals, warehouses, customs and logistics infrastructure, a
vehicle terminal and service facilities. Bonded warehouses with a
total area of up to 50,000 square meters will also be built.
The project also includes a 200-bed accommodation complex for
shift workers and visiting specialists, equipped with a canteen,
laundry, gym and a 24-hour medical center.
The investment project is scheduled for implementation between
2026 and 2028. The complex will occupy a 150-hectare site in the
Baqty rural district of Makanshy.
The regional administration noted that Abai Region plans to
implement 41 investment projects worth 131.2 billion tenge (about
$276 million) in 2026, creating 3,263 jobs. During the first half
of the year, 14 investment projects worth 34.62 billion tenge were
commissioned, generating 598 jobs.
