One of Asia’s fastest-growing logistics providers will build new bonded warehouses and an intermodal container terminal in Kazakhstan on the
One of Asia’s fastest-growing logistics providers will build new bonded warehouses and an intermodal container terminal in Kazakhstan on the China border to connect rail freight between China and Europe.
Soyuztranslink (STL) intermodal hub in the town of Khorgos is due for completion by 2010 and complements the Kazakhstan Government’s US$500 million investment to upgrade rail and road infrastructure throughout the country.
STL Managing Director Erlan Dikhanbayev says the development will meet demand for booming cargo volumes from China to Central Asia and Russia.
“We estimate that rail freight volumes to and from China will grow by 300 percent during the next four years via Khorgos and there is demand to expedite transit cargo by rail and road between China and Europe,” he says.
“The upgraded infrastructure and streamlined Customs procedures will mean faster transit times between China and Europe.
“STL’s investment in this intermodal hub will provide our customers with shorter border transit times, improved security and better tracking and tracing of containers.”
The Kazakhstan authorities are looking to attract 4 percent of cargo volumes currently by sea between China and Europe and move it by rail.
STL has grown rapidly during the last 12 months opening offices in Singapore, India, Iran and Dubai as trading booms with the resource rich Central Asia region. The company also has offices in Hong Kong and Shanghai.
Central Asia and Russia are rich in natural resources such as oil, gas and minerals and has modern heavy industries such as steel plants. As the economies grow in the region demand for imported goods and materials is increasing.
STL provides a range of freight services to destinations in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Ukraine and Russia through gateways in Qingdao as well as through Bandar Abbas port in Iran and has a well-established network of partners in Europe, the United States and other parts of the world.