At a meeting held in Astana from June 18-20, 2024, the Romanian company CFR Marfa signed a memorandum of cooperation with KTZ Express, this is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

The aim of this agreement is to develop transport services along the Middle Corridor, also known as the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), which connects Central Asia, the Caspian Sea, and the Black Sea.

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The Middle Corridor, being an important element of global trade, provides an opportunity for fast and efficient transport communication between Europe and Asia.

The meeting in Astana, attended by representatives of the state and private railway sectors, as well as Kazakh government officials, including Minister of Transport Maksat Kaliakparov, was a significant event in the context of enhancing multimodal transport services.

During the visit, CFR Marfa held talks with potential customers interested in the transport solutions offered by the company.

The participants focused on the advantages of using the Middle Corridor, passing through the countries of Central Asia, the Caspian Sea, and the Black Sea.

The Port of Constanta, the largest port on the Black Sea, was identified as a key hub for distributing goods across European countries.

CFR Marfa presented its plans for developing freight transportation through the Port of Constanta.

The company plans to use its significant resources, including rolling stock, freight terminals, and skilled personnel, to handle and transport goods from Central Asia to Europe and back.

The memorandum of cooperation between CFR Marfa and KTZ Express provides for the implementation of joint projects on rail freight transportation between Romania and Kazakhstan.

This agreement is part of a broader strategy aimed at developing the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route.

The creation of a coordination platform for the Middle Corridor, announced on June 12, 2024, is another significant step in this direction.

The European Commission and Kazakhstan jointly launched this platform to expand the corridor’s functionality and turn it into a multimodal and competitive route capable of connecting Europe and Asia in 15 days or less.

Kazakhstan’s Minister of Transport Marat Karabayev noted the importance of the coordination platform for uniting efforts and sharing experiences among the corridor’s participating countries.

The platform will facilitate the coordination of infrastructure investments necessary for developing sustainable transport links between Central Asia and Europe.

The creation of this platform marks a significant step forward in strengthening economic ties between the regions.

The Directorate-General for International Partnerships of the European Commission emphasized that sustainable transport links are crucial for economic growth and connectivity between Central Asia and Europe.

Thus, the signing of the memorandum between CFR Marfa and KTZ Express and the creation of a coordination platform for the Middle Corridor highlight the commitment to developing an efficient and sustainable transport system that can significantly strengthen trade ties between Europe and Asia.

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