DP World Vice Chairman Jamal Majid bin Thaniah has visited the Port of Aktau to meet the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan, Karim Masimov, as part of their review of Kazakhstan’s infrastructure development at the Port of Aktau, and in Khorgos in the east of the country.
A special ceremony held early this month saw the President of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev, inaugurate the construction of the new Khorgos Special Economic Zone (SEZ) and Inland Container Depot (ICD) via video link, with the event attended by senior DP World and Government officials.
In November 2013, DP World and the Kazakhstan National Railway Company, Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ), signed an agreement that will see DP World provide management services for the development of the Khorgos SEZ and ICD. DP World is also providing similar services under a separate contract at the Port of Aktau, Kazakhstan’s main cargo and bulk terminal on the Caspian Sea.
Bin Thaniah said: “Kazakhstan is perhaps the world’s original cross border trade enabler as home to the longest segment of the ancient Silk Way. With the shift of manufacturing to central and western Chinese cities there is a new potential to develop a New Silk Way that links China and the West mainly by land.
“Developing Special Economic Zones is an excellent way to attract business and investment in a growing emerging country and our experience of Jebel Ali port and the Free Zone provides some valuable insights into how to best manage these opportunities.
“We are proud to have the opportunity to share our port and logistics expertise with the Government of Kazakhstan at Khorgos and Aktau, helping to develop the country’s modern logistics hubs to power economic development and enable trade across the region.” The Khorgos ICD is due to be completed by the end of this year, and is set to open for business in early 2015.
Source : WAM News Agency for United Arab Emirates
