Japan to help establish trade route via Caspian Sea linking Central Asia, Europe

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida plans to announce an economic aid package for central Asia in a meeting with five regional leaders in Kazakhstan early next month, government officials said, Report informs via The Japan Times.

Kishida is scheduled to visit Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Mongolia from August 9 to 12.

The economic package is centered around the establishment of a trade route, decarbonization and the promotion of people-to-people exchanges. It is expected to be part of a joint statement to be released after the six-way summit in Kazakhstan.

Under the aid plan, Japan will help establish a trade route through the Caspian Sea that will link Central Asia and Europe without going through Russia.

In the field of decarbonization, Japanese companies' technologies and loans are expected to be used for such measures such as aid in the processing of natural gas. For exchanges, Japan is set to accept skilled workers from the region.