ALMATY – Kazakhstan has unveiled a new phase of its transport infrastructure strategy, launching construction of the Beineu–Saksaulsk highway and announcing the expansion of two additional road corridors as part of a broader effort to reposition the country as a key logistics hub linking Europe and Asia.
President Tokayev spoke at an Aug. 3 teleconference dedicated to the construction of the Kyzylorda-Saksaulsk, Ulgaysyn-Saksaulsk, and Beineu-Saksaulsk highways. Photo credit: Akorda. Speaking at an Aug. 3 ceremony, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said the projects are designed not only to improve domestic connectivity but also to increase transit capacity, shorten cargo routes between China and Europe, and strengthen Kazakhstan’s role in Eurasian supply chains.
According to him, Kazakhstan’s long-term objective extends beyond building roads to creating an integrated transport network capable of supporting growing Eurasian trade flows. “Our main goal is to transform Kazakhstan into one of the leading logistics hubs connecting Europe and Asia,” Tokayev said.
The new highway, which President Tokayev proposed naming the Aral-Caspian Highway, will directly connect border checkpoints with China to the Caspian ports of Aktau and Kuryk, reducing freight routes between China and Europe by nearly 1,000 kilometers and shortening delivery times by up to three days.
Moving beyond traditional transport routes The announcement reflects a broader shift in Kazakhstan’s transport strategy. The latest projects aim to complement old networks with new East-West corridors that align with growing trade between China, Central Asia, the Caspian region and Europe.
In parallel with the Beineu–Saksaulsk project, Tokayev announced the expansion and reconstruction of the Kyzylorda–Saksaulsk and Ulgaysyn–Saksaulsk highways, covering a combined 774 kilometers. According to him, domestic companies will lead construction, creating more than 10,000 jobs, while annual freight volumes along the corridor are expected to increase 2.5-fold to 13.2 million tons after completion.
“Undoubtedly, these projects will contribute to the development of the national economy and tourism, as well as to improving the welfare of the population. Each of these projects is seamlessly integrated into the transportation system of Kazakhstan. The historically established vertical transportation networks are now complemented by horizontal connections,” Tokayev said, instructing that all projects should be completed no later than 2029.
The road projects form part of a wider effort to transform transport into one of Kazakhstan’s principal growth sectors. According to Tokayev, freight transportation reached nearly 37 million tons in 2025, a 6% increase from the previous year.