Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has proposed establishing a portfolio of flagship industrial and technological projects for the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) for 2027-2030.

Speaking at a meeting of the CIS Heads of State Council in Turkmenistan, Tokayev also said Kazakhstan was developing a network of cross-border industrial and trade centers along its borders with Russia, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan, The Caspian Post reports, citing Qazinform.

He noted that the necessary legal and regulatory framework had been established to strengthen industrial and trade cooperation.

According to the president, modern infrastructure to expand business ties and establish new production facilities is taking shape across a large part of the CIS region.

The next priority, he said, is to realize this potential by removing unjustified and artificially created barriers to mutual trade, expanding the services market and creating favorable conditions for reciprocal investment.

“The logical continuation of this work should be the implementation of major joint initiatives under the auspices of the Commonwealth. In this regard, I propose establishing a Portfolio of Flagship CIS Industrial and Technological Projects for 2027-2030. In my view, the focus should be placed on the production of high value-added goods, which would create new growth drivers for our economies,” Tokayev said.

He added that Kazakhstan would maintain a pragmatic and realistic approach, taking into account the complexity of the task while continuing to make effective use of existing economic advantages and achievements.

Tokayev also stressed the need to involve development institutions, financial organizations and businesses in the initiative.

Another promising area for expanding cooperation, he said, is the development of transport links and the strengthening of the region’s transit potential.

Tokayev identified the North-South corridor, the Western China-Western Europe route and the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route as Kazakhstan’s key transport priorities.

“Their seamless interconnectivity will significantly enhance the efficiency of the entire continental transport system. This objective is supported by the Concept for Integrating the Main Transport Corridors Passing Through the Territories of CIS Member States, which was approved in May of this year at the initiative of Kazakhstan,” he stressed.

The president said Kazakhstan was contributing to the implementation of the concept. In August, the country launched construction of the new Aral-Caspian Highway, which will extend for more than 1,500 kilometers.

Once completed, the strategic project is expected to shorten the road corridor between China and Europe by approximately 1,000 kilometers and reduce transit cargo delivery times to three days.

Tokayev said work was also continuing on other major projects, highlighting the importance of “soft infrastructure,” including transport digitalization, electronic document management and the harmonization of border procedures.

“A key priority is the creation of a ‘single digital corridor.’ At Kazakhstan's initiative, electronic exchanges of permit documents have been introduced with Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan. Similar work is underway with Russia and Belarus. In cooperation with the Russian side, the first cross-border autonomous freight transportation services were launched in May of this year,” he said.

Tokayev concluded that expanding the most effective solutions across the entire CIS region would be a practical step toward strengthening cooperation.