16-05-2024
Minister Skuodis to meet with the Minister of Transport of Kazakhstan, to sign a memorandum on the development of the Trans-Caspian Corridor
On Friday, Minister of Transport and Communications Marius Skuodis will meet with Minister of Transport of Kazakhstan Marat Karabaev and his lead delegation to discuss bilateral cooperation in transport and logistics, freight flows and the development of a transport corridors between Europe and Central Asia. The Ministers of Lithuania and Kazakhstan will sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), aimed at strengthening interconnections and the development of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route.
The aim of the Memorandum is to foster cooperation between Lithuania and Kazakhstan in the development of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, to increase the integration of transport links and the efficiency of transport, and to implement the European Commission's Global Gateway initiative, that contributes to the development of sustainable, smart, resilient, inclusive and safe transport networks of all modes.
According to Minister Skuodis, further development of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, which connects Europe with Kazakhstan via the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan and Georgia, provides an excellent opportunity to strengthen economic and business cooperation between Lithuania and Asia.
"We are consistently working to ensure Lithuania's close ties with Asia, cooperation in transport and logistics. Connecting the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route with the Baltic Sea region, thus providing alternatives for transporting goods from the Central Asian region, is one of the cooperation projects between Lithuania and Kazakhstan," said Mr Skuodis.
The meeting is also expected to focus on cooperation to ensure the implementation of European Union sanctions, exchanging information and best practices in this area. Ministers will further discuss rail freight, the digitisation of transport and logistics and other issues relevant to the transport sector.
In addition, the Ministry of Transport and Communications will host a meeting of the Lithuanian-Kazakhstan Transport Working Group, during which representatives of both countries will sign a protocol on further development of cooperation in the fields of rail, road and air transport.
In the first quarter of 2024, trade between Lithuania and Kazakhstan amounted to EUR 117 million. Last year, Kazakhstan's cargo through Klaipėda Port grew the most: in 2023 it was 271,000 tonnes as compared with 195,000 tonnes in 2022 (39% more). The main products being transported are base metals and their products, chemical and mineral products.