Minister: Japan interested in exploring potential of Middle Corridor

Japan is interested in exploring the potential of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), also known as the Middle Corridor, said Yerlan Baudarbek-Kozhatayev, Kazakhstani Ambassador to Japan, Report informs.

He made the remark during a meeting with Hiromasa Nakano, Japanese Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.

According to the Kazakh Foreign Ministry, the development prospects of the Middle Corridor were discussed at the meeting.

The diplomat spoke about the current state and development prospects of the Middle Corridor, which is one of the main multimodal transit routes between Asia and Europe.

Minister Nakano noted TITR's growing role in international trade and regional economic development.

"In this context, issues of infrastructure development and increasing throughput capacity within the Middle Corridor framework, improving management efficiency, as well as enhancing logistics and customs services were discussed," reads the statement.

The ambassador informed the minister about the outcomes of meetings with Japanese transport and logistics companies. These companies have shown interest in implementing transit container transportation from Japan to Europe via the ports of Aktau and Kuryk, as well as in establishing logistics centers in Kazakhstan.

Additionally, the parties discussed the possibility of opening a direct air route between Kazakhstan and Japan, noting that this would contribute to strengthening mutual business relations.

The Middle Corridor is an international transport corridor connecting China and European countries through Kazakhstan, the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan, and Georgia.