Kazakhstan to Build International Airport Near Chinese Border

A new international airport will be constructed in the Jetisu region, near the Khorgos International Center for Border Cooperation, Orda.kz reports.

The project is expected to strengthen Kazakhstan’s position as a key transit point on the New Silk Road.

Located within the Khorgos–Eastern Gate Special Economic Zone, the airport will serve both cargo and passenger traffic. Total investments are estimated at around 250 billion tenge.

The project is being developed by the German-Kazakh joint venture Skyhansa, which includes The Hansa Consortium and Kazakhstan’s Skymax Technologies. The consortium has committed to sourcing local materials and hiring at least 90% of its workforce from among Kazakhstan's citizens.

Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov said the airport will become a strategic logistics link connecting rail, road, and air corridors between China, Central Asia, and Europe.

The project will be executed in three phases.

By 2027, developers aim to launch a passenger terminal with a capacity of up to 50 passengers per hour, a cargo terminal capable of handling 50,000 tons annually, a car park, a railway spur, and a modern aviation fuel storage facility with a 200,000-ton capacity.

By 2032, throughput is expected to rise to 500 passengers and 250,000 tons per year.

Skyhansa co-founder Dr. Christine Grötzbach emphasized the broader vision for the facility:

Its location – close to the border with China, within the framework of the Khorgos-Eastern Gate SEZ – opens up exceptional conditions for the development of international trade, and its connection to the railway and road networks makes it one of the most promising logistics hubs on the New Silk Road. 

The hub will also include a business center, hotels, maintenance services, and support for multimodal transport.

Original Author: Ruslan Loginov