ASTANA, Kazakhstan, Nov 21 – Kazakhstan and Hungary are exploring opportunities to enhance one of the most strategic trade corridors – the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev announced at a joint press conference with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán in Budapest, as reported by Trend.
“New opportunities are emerging for the development of infrastructure, logistics, and international trade. Kazakhstan handles 85% of overland transit shipments between Asia and Europe, and in the near future, shipments along this route are expected to reach 10 million tons,” President Tokayev stated.
During his visit to Hungary, a memorandum of cooperation was signed between KTZ Express (Kazakhstan), L.A.C. Holding (Hungary), and Xi’an Free Trade Port Construction and Operation (China), Tokayev revealed.
“This agreement will strengthen trade and transport connections between our countries and represents another step forward in deepening economic ties across the region,” he added.
The Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, also known as the Middle Corridor, is a trade and transportation route linking Asia and Europe, offering an alternative to the traditional Northern and Southern Corridors. Beginning in China, the route crosses Central Asian countries such as Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan, then traverses the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Türkiye before reaching Europe. This direct land route connects East Asia, including China, to Europe, providing a faster alternative to longer maritime paths.