Kazakhstan to Invest Over $23 Billion in Developing East–West and North–South Transport Corridors by 2035

Kazakhstan is set to invest more than $23 billion in developing major transport corridors along the East-West and North-South routes by 2035, according to the Eurasian Development Bank’s (EDB) study “Eurasian Transport Network: Projects Observatory and Interactive Map.”

The study outlines 42 key transport projects either underway or planned across the country, including several cross-border initiatives aimed at strengthening regional connectivity, The Caspian Post reports via Kazakh media.

Among them are the Ayagoz-Bakhty railway and a third border crossing between Kazakhstan and China; a toll highway linking Almaty and Issyk-Kul (Kyrgyzstan); the Zhanaozen-Kenderli-Turkmenistan border highway, which forms part of the eastern branch of the North-South International Transport Corridor; and the Darbaza-Maktaaral railway with a new border crossing to Uzbekistan.

According to the EDB, the largest portion of investment - $16.7 billion (71.7 per cent) - will be allocated to the road sector, while $4.2 billion (18 per cent) will go to railway infrastructure. An additional $1.5 billion is planned for the expansion of Caspian Sea ports and fleet capacity, and $0.9 billion will be invested in logistics centers, border checkpoints, and airport cargo terminals.

Experts note that these initiatives will significantly boost Kazakhstan’s position as a central transport and logistics hub connecting Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, strengthening the country’s role in regional and global trade networks.