Kazakhstan Could Gain Access to Global Markets via Gwadar Port

Kazakhstan may gain long-sought access to the sea through a new trade route via Pakistan’s Gwadar port, potentially expanding its logistical reach, Orda.kz reports.

Kazakhstan’s Ambassador to Pakistan, Yerzhan Kistafin, met with Pakistan’s Minister of Maritime Affairs, Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry, to discuss establishing a new transport corridor that would open up the Arabian Sea to Kazakhstan and the broader Central Asian region.

Pakistani ports can serve as transit hubs not only for Kazakhstan, but for the entire Central Asia, providing access to the markets of the Persian Gulf, Africa, and Southeast Asia, Kistafin noted. 

The two officials confirmed mutual interest in utilizing Pakistan’s seaports — Karachi, Qasim, and Gwadar — for Kazakhstan's cargo. 

Minister Chaudhry assured Pakistan is ready to provide the necessary infrastructure and support for Kazakhstan’s initiatives. A delegation of Kazakh experts is expected to visit Pakistan soon to assess the ports and outline steps to make the corridor operational.

If realized, the route could reduce Kazakhstan’s reliance on current export routes, which include Russian ports like Novorossiysk, Chinese ports such as Lianyungang, and Caspian Sea shipping corridors.

Kazakhstan has also been working to diversify its maritime connections beyond Pakistan. It recently signed agreements with Iran for direct exports to Persian Gulf ports and launched joint military boat production with Türkiye in the Caspian Sea. However, these initiatives still face infrastructure gaps and require major investment.

Original Author: Ruslan Loginov