Kazakhstan has a historic opportunity to become a leading logistics hub in Eurasia as vulnerabilities in maritime routes increase the strategic importance of land corridors, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said Wednesday.

Speaking in a special address to the nation broadcast live, Tokayev noted that about 85% of freight transported from China to Europe passes through Kazakhstan, The Caspian Post reports, citing Anadolu Agency.

“Global logistics has entered a period of large-scale transformation and accelerated development,” he said, calling for the development of domestic logistics operators, cargo distribution centers and manufacturing facilities around transport hubs.

The president said the international situation was becoming increasingly unpredictable, pointing to declining trust among major powers and weakening international institutions.

He stressed that Kazakhstan must continue domestic reforms and strengthen its sovereignty.

Turning to energy projects, Tokayev said construction of Kazakhstan’s first nuclear power plant, Balhash, could begin in 2027. He added that an agreement on cooperation to accelerate the development of a second plant, Moyynkum, could also be signed that year.

He also proposed establishing a strategic uranium reserve to ensure long-term fuel supplies for the country’s planned nuclear power plants. Tokayev urged foreign partners to support technology transfer and the development of high-tech industries.

On economic policy, the president called for examining higher tax rates for wealthy individuals, improving tax collection through artificial intelligence and amending the 2025 tax code where necessary to make business regulations more predictable.

Tokayev also instructed the government to prepare a new Civil Code, which parliament could adopt by the end of 2027, to reflect developments in modern technologies and the economy.