Toqayev Signs Law on New Logistics Center

President Qasym-Jomart Toqayev has signed a law ratifying the agreement between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan on regulating the activities of the International Center for Industrial Cooperation “Central Asia,” Orda.kz reports, citing Aqorda.

The agreement follows recent talks in Khiva between the foreign ministers of both countries, where they discussed the long-term development of Central Asia. A protocol was signed to formalize their commitments.

The idea for the center was initially agreed upon in 2024, when Toqayev and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev met in Astana and launched a partnership program. The initiative aims to boost bilateral trade to $10 billion (5.2 trillion tenge) by 2030.

In February, Kazakhstan’s Majilis ratified the intergovernmental agreement on the center, which is scheduled to open in the first half of 2027.

The center will serve as a key logistics and manufacturing hub, equipped with infrastructure, warehouses, and production facilities funded by private investment.

The project is part of a broader strategy to modernize Kazakhstan’s trade and logistics network. In December 2023, the government also announced plans to develop four additional trade hubs by the end of 2026.

Original Author: Alexandra Mokhireva