BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 28.
Kazakhstan plans to begin construction of a new airport in Astana
next year with the involvement of one of the world's leading
companies in the sector, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said in
his Address to the People of Kazakhstan, according to the
presidential press service.
Tokayev stressed that Kazakhstan cannot claim the
status of a global transit corridor or a Eurasian transport and
logistics hub without high-quality roads and modern roadside
service infrastructure.
"Let me remind you: without high-quality roads and
modern roadside service infrastructure, Kazakhstan cannot claim the
status of a global transit corridor or a Eurasian transport and
logistics hub. That is what is at stake, and this issue must be
resolved at all costs," he said.
He warned that congestion at border crossings was
undermining the country's ambitions to become a transport
leader.
"If the border has become a bottleneck causing
traffic jams stretching for many kilometers, as is happening right
now, there can be no talk of Kazakhstan's leadership," Tokayev
said.
The president noted that key air corridors between
Europe and Asia pass through Kazakhstan, giving the country a
significant competitive advantage.
"However, this advantage remains only on the pages of
glossy presentations. To put it into practice, we need to develop
advanced ground service infrastructure. This is standard
international practice. For now, huge revenues are literally flying
past our country," he said.
Tokayev also highlighted the need to improve the
performance of the private company Air Cargo.
"High hopes are pinned on the private company Air
Cargo. It has substantial financing capacity, including the ability
to pay leading foreign specialists, and can make decisions
independently. So far, there have been neither decisions nor
results. You have been entrusted with this responsibility, and we
expect concrete results," he said.
Tokayev noted that several airports are currently
being built simultaneously in Kazakhstan, an unprecedented
undertaking in the country's history. The restoration of the
airport in Arkalyk has been completed, while the airports in
Zaisan, Katon-Karagay and Kendirli are expected to become
operational soon.
"Next year, we will begin construction of a new
airport in Astana with the involvement of one of the world's
leading companies in this sector," he said.
The president also said Kazakhstan needed to complete
a number of important tasks to establish itself firmly as a key
transport hub in Eurasia, including the digitalization of the
transport sector.
"First and foremost, this involves the full
digitalization of the transport sector, including international
routes. In the age of artificial intelligence, managing global
transit flows using paper consignment notes is absurd. This is the
shortest route to nowhere," Tokayev said.
