via a teleconference on December 20th officially inaugurated the construction of a new railway line with a total length of 272 km in the Abay Region of southern Kazakhstan The project is being implemented upon the instruction of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to increase the transport and transit potential of Kazakhstan The project also involves the opening of a third border crossing with China The railway line will increase the throughput capacity between Kazakhstan and China from 28 million to around 48 million tons lessen the burden on the southern checkpoints It is planned that the double-track line will begin operating in 2027 The large-scale project will be realized with the participation of a private investor on PPP principles the Prime Minister stated that last year Kazakhstan’s railroads transported the largest volume of cargo since the country’s independence which amounted to 245 billion tons/kilometer These rates have been maintained in the current year despite the geopolitical situation and infrastructure constraints the volume of transit container transportation has grown 3.2-fold Existing transit corridors are being expanded The Trans-Caspian International Transport Route North-South and Southern corridors have become particularly relevant,” Smailov said the throughput and infrastructure capacities have reached their peak a decision was made to implement a number of infrastructure projects in the rail industry The new line is expected to help increase Kazakhstan’s exports and the transit of goods from Russia to China and back Kazakhstan’s rail network is a strategic national asset vital for a country of its vast size and landlocked geography Without direct access to the world’s oceans railways serve as critical arteries for trade and transit Under new geopolitical and logistical conditions the importance of modernizing and expanding this network has become increasingly urgent Kazakhstan’s railroads form the backbone of its transportation infrastructure the country plans to modernize 11,000 kilometers of highways and construct over 5,000 kilometers of new railways Among these ambitious projects are the construction of second tracks on the Dostyk-Moyinty railway section and two new lines: Darbaza-Maktaaral and Bakhty-Ayagoz Expanding Trade with China: Increased Cargo Traffic The Dostyk border station has become a key hub for exports to China and a vital transit point for East-West trade growing cargo volumes and limited capacity have placed immense pressure on its infrastructure with a current capacity of 20 million tons annually handled 15.2 million tons in the first 10 months of this year alone – a 15% increase compared to the same period last year To address these challenges construction of second railroad tracks on the Dostyk-Moyinty section began in November 2022 Part of the National Project: Strong Regions – Driver of the Country’s Development this project aims to increase the section’s capacity fivefold Transportation speeds between China and Europe are also set to improve significantly from the current 800 kilometers per day to 1,500 kilometers per day Official data indicates that 635 kilometers of the planned 836 kilometers have already been completed and a workforce of 24 construction companies and over 440 units of equipment Private Investments Driving New Railway Lines Kazakhstan’s second major rail crossing with China the two stations handle 28 million tons annually This makes the development of the new 272-kilometer Bakhty-Ayagoz railway line essential Connecting the border to the Semey-Aktogay section and the China-Europe corridor the new line is expected to boost goods transportation to and from China by an additional 20 million tons realized under a public-private partnership model will feature the construction of 11 stations It will also include five pedestrian bridges and 16 observation structures utilizing over 500,000 locally manufactured sleepers and 36,000 rails Approximately 1,700 jobs will be created during the construction phase Alleviating Traffic in Almaty: A New Bypass Line The 73-kilometer bypass railway line around Almaty is set to increase cargo capacity by 17 million tons annually By redirecting traffic to the Zhetygen-Kazybek Bey line this project will reduce congestion at the Almaty junction by 40% Faster delivery times for goods and passengers – up to 24 hours shorter – are among the expected benefits the project is expected to improve the city’s environmental conditions by reducing urban rail traffic thereby lowering air and noise pollution in Almaty Connecting Central Asia: Access Through Uzbekistan The Darbaza-Maktaaral railway project is designed to handle over 20 million tons of cargo annually A new border checkpoint between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan will alleviate pressure on the existing Saryagash-Tashkent section and increase freight speeds across Uzbekistan the project will drive economic growth in the Turkestan region by linking the Maktaaral and Zhetysai districts with Kazakhstan’s national rail network The initiative involves the construction of three junctions and five posts Enhancing Competitiveness on the Global Stage Kazakhstan’s investment in rail infrastructure reflects its commitment to becoming a vital transit and logistics corridor in a rapidly evolving global economy it is planned to finish the renovated of football fields at the Central Stadium in Ayagoz (Abay region) the reserve stadium “Vostok” in Ust-Kamenogorsk (East Kazakhstan region) and at the stadium “Dostyk” in Aksu (Pavlodar region). The ALAŇ project is also aimed at improving the quality of sports infrastructure and developing grassroots in the country we should focus on grassroots and our children This is the first step where football starts Professional football will never develop without grassroots level We have divided and made 5-17 aged programs there is also a separate program for women Now all these programs are actively developing already today about 1,250,000 children in the country are engaged in football We want to bring it up to 2,500,000 children because the health of the nation is very important to us,”  said the KFF president Adlet Barmenkulov The project will renovate 20 football fields in the country between 2023 and 2025. Last year a new field was opened at the Dynamo stadium in Petropavl “Not all cities have football fields of this quality for children Thanks to the support of the leadership of the North-Kazakhstan region and the Kazakhstan Football Federation such a wonderful field was opened here,” the former captain of the national football team Samat Smakov said at the opening ceremony in Petropavl This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page Independent foreign policy analyst - Azerbaijan the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TCITP) has gained significant traction as an alternative trade route between the European Union (EU) and China particularly in response to shifting geopolitical dynamics The Middle Corridor is a multimodal land and sea transport route that connects China with Europe by utilizing a combination of rail and sea transport It stretches from China’s western border through Kazakhstan across the Caspian Sea via Azerbaijan and Georgia Amid the ongoing crisis in the Red Sea and the Russia-Ukraine war, the Middle Corridor has emerged as a stable route for China. The Middle Corridor was officially launched in 2013 through multilateral cooperation involving Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, and Türkiye. Its primary aim was to enhance East-West trade connectivity and facilitate the interaction of member countries with key economic hubs such as the EU and China.[1] Despite the completion of critical infrastructure projects—such as the Trans-Kazakhstan railway in 2014 and the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars (BTK) railway in 2017,[2] which significantly strengthened the corridor’s hard infrastructure—China’s engagement with the Middle Corridor remained minimal during this period.[3] Beijing’s perception of the Middle Corridor can be divided into two phases: the first from 2013 to 2022 013 to 2022: Limited Engagement and Strategic Hesitation Additionally, the EU’s preference for using the Northern Corridor for trade with China further dissuaded Beijing from promoting the Middle Corridor. Before 2022, around 90% of EU-China land-based trade passed through the Northern Corridor via Russia.[5] The combination of strengthened ties with Russia and the EU’s preference for the Northern Corridor created strong political and strategic reasons for China to focus on the Northern Corridor for land-based trade between the EU and China China’s limited engagement with the Middle Corridor was further influenced by security concerns and economic factors The volatile situation in the Nagorno-Karabakh region marked by a fragile ceasefire between Azerbaijan and Armenia made the area risky for transport corridors This conflictual situation and the potential for heightened tensions reduced the route’s reliability discouraging involvement and investment from Chinese companies In contrast, the Northern route through Kazakhstan, Russia, and Belarus to the EU costs only US$2,800 to US$3,200 per FEU.[8] This substantial cost difference acted as a major disincentive for Chinese companies the absence of subsidies from Chinese provinces and limited investment from the EU for infrastructure development in corridor countries further reduced opportunities to lower cargo transportation costs between China and the EU The technical challenges associated with the Middle Corridor played a critical role in reducing its attractiveness to Beijing which offers a single transport modality (primarily railway) with minimal border crossings the Middle Corridor is a multi-modal transport route involving both land and sea travel This complexity inherently increases cargo transit times and complicates logistics Hard infrastructure issues further compounded these challenges. Congestion at Caspian and Black Sea ports caused significant delays, introducing uncertainty in cargo arrival times—a critical factor for companies managing supply chains. The imbalance between rail capacities and insufficient ferry and port services on both sides of the Caspian Sea exacerbated traffic issues and delays.[9] alongside the previously mentioned political collectively diminished the Middle Corridor’s appeal to China explaining Beijing’s limited involvement in and emphasis on this route between 2013 and 2022 2022 to Present: Emerging Strategic Focus on the Middle Corridor The geopolitical shifts that unfolded after 2022 significantly elevated the strategic importance of the Middle Corridor for China coupled with the growing significance of the Middle Corridor for land-based trade between the EU and China prompted Beijing to adopt a more proactive approach in its engagement with countries along this route In addition to strengthening bilateral relations, Beijing has also expanded its engagement at a multilateral level. Notably, China’s formal involvement in the Middle Corridor Multimodal Joint Venture established by Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Georgia through the China Railway Container Transport Corporation (CRTC) signals Beijing’s intention to diversify its transport routes and mitigate geopolitical risks.[16] These developments reflect China’s deepening engagement with Middle Corridor countries and underscore the route’s growing strategic importance for Beijing Several factors contribute to the increased importance of the Middle Corridor for China and infrastructural improvements along the corridor The geopolitical developments in the international system have positioned the Middle Corridor as a stable alternative for EU-China trade Sanctions imposed on Russia following the Russia-Ukraine war have led to the exit of EU companies from Russia and made transportation via the Northern Corridor more challenging and growing uncertainty in Russia’s domestic policy have further deterred foreign companies from using this route Considering these developments, the Middle Corridor attracted the attention of major global shipping companies such as MSC (Italian-Swiss), Maersk (Denmark), CMA CGM (France), COSCO (China), and ZIM (Israel). These companies are launching new services along the Middle Corridor, primarily through Georgia’s port of Poti.[23] the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict has also contributed to a more stable environment in the South Caucasus enhancing the security and reliability of the Middle Corridor for Chinese companies Ongoing peace talks between Armenia and Azerbaijan are expected to promote long-term regional stability further solidifying the corridor’s importance On the soft infrastructure side, the establishment of the Middle Corridor Multimodal Joint Venture by Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Georgia is a key development. This initiative offers services on a one-stop-shop basis, guarantees delivery times, and promotes a coordinated approach to developing multimodal services on the China-Europe/Türkiye-China route.[30] The proactive investments by corridor countries combined with the EU’s growing engagement are key drivers pushing China to engage more actively with the Middle Corridor These developments also reduce China’s need to make additional infrastructure investments allowing Chinese companies to benefit from modernized infrastructure along the route Conclusion: China’s Economic and Geopolitical Interests in the Middle Corridor China’s evolving approach to the Middle Corridor represents a strategic shift in its Eurasian policy driven by recent global events and changing geopolitical dynamics and ongoing disruptions in the Northern Corridor and the Red Sea have underscored the risks of relying on single trade routes China has intensified its engagement with the Middle Corridor viewing it as a stable alternative for sustainable trade with the EU This route not only connects China to Northern and Southern European markets but also provides access to the Middle East through Türkiye China aims to mitigate geopolitical risks and enhance its economic resilience in an increasingly unpredictable global landscape [1] Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, “History,” https://middlecorridor.com/en/about-the-association/history-en [2] “New Railway Lines Will Connect North-South, East-West,” The Astana Times, September 3, 2014, https://astanatimes.com/2014/09/new-railway-lines-will-connect-north-south-east-west/ [3] “826-km Baku-Tbilisi-Kars (BTK) railway launches operations,” The Astana Times, November 1, 2017, https://astanatimes.com/2017/11/826-km-baku-tbilisi-kars-btk-railway-launches-operations/ [4] Yunis Sharifli, “Middle Corridor: Potential Alternative to Russian Railways?,” The Jamestown Foundation, April 19, 2022, https://jamestown.org/program/middle-corridor-potential-alternative-to-russian-railways/ [5] Eurasian Development Bank, “The Eurasian Transport Network,” 2024, https://eabr.org/en/analytics/special-reports/the-eurasian-transport-network/ [6] Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), “Realising the Potential of the Middle Corridor,” 2023, https://www.oecd.org/en/publications/2023/12/realising-the-potential-of-the-middle-corridor_c458041c.html [7] Evgeny Vinokurov and Taras Tsukarev, “The Belt and Road Initiative and the transit countries: an economic assessment of land transport corridors,” Area Development and Policy 3, no. 1 (2017): 93–113, https://doi.org/10.1080/23792949.2017.1385406 [8] Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) “Realising the Potential of the Middle Corridor.” [9] Jakub Jakóbowski, Konrad Popławski, and Marcin Kaczmarski, “The Silk Railroad: The EU-China rail connections: background, actors, interests,” (Centre for Eastern Studies, February 28, 2018), https://www.osw.waw.pl/en/publikacje/osw-studies/2018-02-28/silk-railroad [10] Yunis Sharifli, “Optimization Efforts to Improve Transit Through the Critical Middle Corridor,” The Jamestown Foundation, August 4, 2022, https://jamestown.org/program/optimization-efforts-to-improve-transit-through-the-critical-middle-corridor/ [11] Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan, “Kazakhstan and China reach new level of cooperation after President Tokayev’s state visit and China-Central Asia Summit,” May 19, 2023, https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/mfa/press/news/details/558390?lang=en [12] President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, “President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev held talks with President of the People’s Republic of China Xi Jinping,” October 17, 2023, https://www.akorda.kz/en/1-1792253 [13] “Kazakhstan ratifies two agreements with China on development of Trans-Caspian route,” Azernews, May 29, 2024, https://www.azernews.az/region/226746.html [14] “Georgia and China sign memorandum on joint development of Middle Corridor,” Georgian Public Broadcaster, September 13, 2024, https://1tv.ge/lang/en/news/georgia-and-china-sign-memorandum-on-joint-development-of-middle-corridor/ [15] President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, “Joint Declaration of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the People’s Republic of China on the establishment of a strategic partnership was adopted in Astana,” July 3, 2024, https://president.az/en/articles/view/66389 [16] “Kazakhstan and China Collaborate on Container Hub for Aktau Port,” The Times of Central Asia, July 3, 2024, https://timesca.com/kazakhstan-and-china-collaborate-on-container-hub-for-aktau-port/ [17] Aksana Akhmedova and Ketevan Gelashvili, “Impact of Chinese Investment in Anaklia: Strategic Implications for Georgia and Europe,” China Observers in Central and Eastern Europe, July 10, 2024, https://chinaobservers.eu/impact-of-chinese-investment-in-anaklia-strategic-implications-for-georgia-and-europe/ [18] “Kazakhstan, China set to start building Ayagoz-Tacheng railroad,” Interfax, October 17, 2023, https://interfax.com/newsroom/top-stories/95559/ [19] “Kazakhstan launches construction of new rail link to China,” New Silkroad Discovery, December 29, 2023, https://www.newsilkroaddiscovery.com/kazakhstan-launches-construction-of-new-rail-link-to-china/ [20] “Kazakhstan and China to Build Container Hub in the Port of Aktau,” The Times of Central Asia, September 23, 2024, https://timesca.com/kazakhstan-and-china-to-build-container-hub-in-the-port-of-aktau/ [21] Yunis Sharifli, “Emerging potential of the Middle Corridor,” Anadolu Agency, May 9, 2022, https://www.aa.com.tr/en/analysis/analysis-emerging-potential-of-the-middle-corridor/2579415 [22] Eurasian Development Bank, “The Eurasian Transport Network,” 2024, https://eabr.org/en/analytics/special-reports/the-eurasian-transport-network/ [23] Konrad Popławski, Sandra Baniak, Adam Michalski, and Marcin Popławski, “The Middle Corridor: A Eurasian alternative to Russia,” Centre for Eastern Studies, January 26, 2024,  https://www.osw.waw.pl/en/publikacje/osw-report/2024-01-26/middle-corridor [24] Hunter Stoll, “The Middle Corridor: A Renaissance in Global Commerce,” The Diplomat, March 11, 2024, https://thediplomat.com/2024/03/the-middle-corridor-a-renaissance-in-global-commerce/ [25] Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, “Transportation volume via TITR, thousand tons,” https://middlecorridor.com/en/ [26] “Trans-Caspian International Transport Route,” EY, April 15, 2024, https://www.ey.com/en_kz/strategy-transactions/trans-caspian-international-transport-route [27] Eurasian Rail Alliance Index, “ERAI Eurasian Rail Alliance Index,” https://index1520.com/en/ [28] Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, “Modernization work of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars (BTK) railway line has been completed,” May 6, 2024, https://middlecorridor.com/en/for-clients/info-clients/modernization-work-of-the-baku-tbilisi-kars-btk-railway-line-has-been-completed [29] “New multimodal terminal in Poti starts construction,” RailFreight.com, August 14, 2023, https://www.railfreight.com/intermodal/2023/08/14/new-multimodal-terminal-in-port-of-poti-starts-construction/ [30] “Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan Create Joint Venture to Develop Middle Corridor’s Multimodal Service,” The Astana Times, October 27, 2023, https://astanatimes.com/2023/10/azerbaijan-georgia-kazakhstan-create-joint-venture-to-develop-middle-corridors-multimodal-service/ [31] “EBRD Invests in Kazakhstan Railway Bonds to Upgrade Alternative Freight Route Between Asia and Europe,” The Astana Times, July 25, 2022, https://astanatimes.com/2022/07/ebrd-invests-in-kazakhstan-railway-bonds-to-upgrade-alternative-freight-route-between-asia-and-europe/ [32] European Commission, “Global Gateway: €10 billion commitment to invest in Trans Caspian Transport Corridor connecting Europe and Central Asia announced at Investors Forum,” January 29, 2024, https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_24_501 [33] Yunis Sharifli, “China’s Dominance in Central Asia: Myth or Reality?,” Royal United Service Institute, January 18, 2023, https://rusi.org/explore-our-research/publications/commentary/chinas-dominance-central-asia-myth-or-reality Kazakhstan and China continue actively intensifying their cooperation within the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route During his visit to Beijing, Kazakhstan’s Senate Speaker Maulen Ashimbayev discussed strengthening inter-parliamentary cooperation in a meeting with Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of China Zhao Leji, Caliber.Az reports, citing Kazakh media Ashimbayev noted that Kazakhstan and China continue strengthening their cooperation within the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route the construction of the third railway line between Kazakhstan and China – "Ayagoz-Tachen" – has begun with plans to open a third border railway crossing He noted that this route already plays a crucial role in ensuring the security of supply chains between Asia and Europe.  where he met with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev the Kazakh president emphasized that relations of friendship and cooperation with China remain an unequivocal priority for Kazakhstan "We are coordinating all government agencies to work closely with the relevant agencies of the People's Republic of China to further develop our comprehensive strategic partnership," Tokayev stated He also highlighted that both parties are focused on taking the Kazakhstan-China relations to a qualitatively new level.  The Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR) is an integral component of the Belt and Road Initiative established to create a direct transportation link from Asia to Europe The Trans-Caspian International Transport Route starts from Southeast Asia and China It aims to facilitate trade and economic cooperation by connecting major economic regions through a network of railways Kazakhstan has become an increasingly important land-bridge between East and West A vast nation the size of Western Europe with powerful neighbors in the form of China and Russia yet on the doorstep of Europe with access to the Caspian Sea Kazakhstan’s location has elevated it to the cusp of becoming a global power the destination for 39% of total exports and accounting for 29.4% of its total trade in 2021 whilst China is the dominant player in REEs producing approximately 60% and processing 85% of the global output Kazakhstan is the world’s largest producer of uranium – responsible for 33% of global output as of 2021 – a large amount of which is found in rare earth deposits As stated by Wesley Hill, an International Program Manager at the Energy, Growth, and Security Program of the International Tax and Investment Center, “in the same way we competed and continued to compete for other energy resources this geopolitical clash primarily driven by competition between the United States and China.” the depth of Russian influence in Kazakhstan is currently a hot topic for observers of the region Large-scale modernization works were carried out on the reserve field of one of the oldest stadiums in the country - “Vostok”.  The opening ceremony was held with the participation of deputy akim of East Kazakhstan region Yerbol Nurgaliyev the KFF president Adlet Barmenkulov and partners of the project and Kazakhstani head coach Stanislav Cherchesov held children an open training session The main event was the match of the 26th round of QFL First League between football clubs “Altai” and “Turkistan” “This is a great opportunity for young players This program is a new step in the development of football in our region now both schoolchildren and professional clubs can play on the renewed pitch We were just thinking about holding the regional championship and in particular Adlet Nazarbayevich for the project “ALAÑ” deputy akim of East Kazakhstan region Yerbol Nurgaliyev said football is considered as a big social project we are solving the task of making grassroots accessible The main goal is to develop grassroots football Today I look at children and young players their eyes are burning,'' the KFF President Adlet Barmenkulov added A total of 20 football fields in the country are planned to be renovated as part of the ALAÑ project for 2023-2025 Ayagoz and Zhetysu region were already renovated The opening of the next field is scheduled for September 28 at the stadium “Dostyk” in Aksu The Senior coach of Kazakhstan U-21 Konstantin Gorovenko and Yeldos Akhmetov will assist Stanislav Cherchesov in national team The acting coach in the Kazakhstan U-21 has been appointed Denis Mamonov The specialist will be preparing the team for the final Euro 2025 qualifying matches against Spain and Scotland The training camp starts on October 5 in Krems Goalkeepers: Igor Shatskiy (“Aktobe”) Aleksandr Zarutskiy (“Astana”) Defenders: Alibek Kasym (“Aktobe”) Sultanbek Astanov (“Ordabasy”) Adilbek Zhumakhanov (“Atyrau”) Baktiyor Zainutdinov (“Besiktas” Forwards: Abat Aymbetov (“Adana Demirspor” The match Kazakhstan vs Austria takes place on October 10 in Linz The kick-off is at 23:45 Kazakhstan time The match Kazakhstan vs Slovenia will take place three days later in Almaty On measures to implement the Action Plan for The Year of Vocational Professions reported at the Government session Minister of Transport Marat Karabayev among the 9.7 million employed population 772 thousand people work in the transport sector where the predominant part is occupied by workers of railway and road transport This figure will only increase in the near future The major railway transport projects Bakhty-Ayagoz Dostyk-Moyinty and the Almaty Station Bypass railway line are expected to create 27,000 jobs On 24 projects of the road sector the number of jobs will amount to 26 thousand civil aviation and maritime transport will together provide 22 thousand jobs the implementation of 118 projects in the transport sector will make it possible to open an additional 75 thousand jobs by 2030 It should be noted that these projects are envisaged in the National Infrastructure Plan until 2029 today more than 19 thousand students are studying in 37 higher educational institutions in specialities in the field of transport 15 thousand students are studying in 39 colleges 87.5 per cent of university graduates and 81 per cent of graduates of specialised secondary educational institutions will be employed in their field of study To increase the attractiveness of transport professions 830 career guidance events were held across the country Job fairs were organised with the participation of transport enterprises An additional 770 educational grants have been allocated the number of students enrolled in higher education institutions increased by 17 per cent "Our task is to ensure that schoolchildren choose transport professions and graduates are employed by companies in the industry We will scale this work throughout the country in all regions," the Minister said 254 specialised enterprises actively cooperate with educational institutions More than 2.5 thousand students have undergone industrial practice in the group of companies of NC KTZ JSC Training centres for production personnel have been opened in five regions a unified database of JOLSHY specialists for interaction between students and employers makes it possible to ensure prompt recruitment of road industry specialists 21 training centres have been certified for professional training of aviation personnel The system of pilot training under the AB-INITIO programme according to European standards in Europe (EASA) has been introduced global trends and digitalisation require the training of personnel with specialised knowledge and skills the country's transport and logistics sector is expected to need 25 completely new professions in the medium term new projects will involve the design of road construction and reconstruction using BIM technology which involves the use of a digital analogue of the project and 3D modelling This area will require appropriate smart road design engineers construction robot operators and digital designers Designers and operators of digital logistics maps will be needed to manage large transport and logistics hubs external pilots for remotely piloted aircraft systems will be in demand it is planned to work together with educational institutions on the opening of these specialities Within the framework of The Year of Vocational Professions a number of initiatives will also be continued: Stay updated about the events of the Prime minister and the Government of Kazakhstan - subscribe to the official Telegram channel The construction of a new railway line Bakhty - Ayagoz with a length of 272 km started in Abay region Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan gave an official start to the works in the mode of teleconference The project is realized within the framework of execution of the instruction of the Head of State Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on increase of transport-transit potential of Kazakhstan During construction of the new line it is planned to open the third border crossing with China Bakhty - Chuguchak the railway line Bakhty - Ayagoz will increase the throughput capacity between Kazakhstan and China from 28 to about 48 million tons unload the southern checkpoints and attract additional volumes of transit It is planned that the double-track railroad will be put into operation in 2027 For this purpose it is planned to purchase over 500 thousand units of sleepers and 36 tons of rails from domestic manufacturers Local content is expected to be at least 85% Prime Minister noted that last year Kazakhstan's railroads transported the maximum volume of cargo for 30 years of independence High rates are maintained in the current year the volume of transit container transportation has grown 3.2 times Existing transit corridors are being expanded and new ones are being opened North-South and Southern corridors have become particularly relevant," Alikhan Smailov said a decision was made to implement a number of infrastructure projects in the railway industry construction of second tracks on the Dostyk - Moyinty section began work on a new railroad bypassing Almaty and the railroad line Darbaza - Maktaaral was launched over 1300 km of railroads will be built in the republic within three years Prime Minister added that the construction of the highway will provide jobs for more than 1,700 people the opening of unloading and loading places will also entail the creation of new jobs "All this will have a positive impact on the economy of not only Abay region The implementation of the Bakhty - Ayagoz project will also accelerate the integration of Kazakhstan's railway network into the world transport system," Alikhan Smailov emphasized said that the new branch line will increase the volume of Kazakhstan's exports as well as the transit of goods from Russia to China and back East Kazakhstan regions and others will pass through this branch line The construction of a double-track line is a guarantee that it will be at once with sufficient capacity it will be an additional inflow of transit cargo and an impetus to the development of our neighboring territories," he said The event was attended by the heads of the Abay regional Akimat current employees and veterans of the industry Kazakhstan will now await the Argentina-Croatia winners in the last eight The quarter-final game will be held on September 30 at the Humo Arena in Tashkent Head coach: Paulo Ricardo Kaká Universal sports complex “Andijan”