China’s CITIC Group to build Center-West corridor in KazakhstanThe Ministry of Transport of Kazakhstan and the Chinese corporation CITIC Group have signed a Memorandum of Cooperation aimed at constructing the Center-West highway, the ministry's press service reported.The document was signed within the framework of the second China-Central Asia Industrial and Investment Cooperation Forum.As previously reported, Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokeyev instructed the construction of the highway from Astana to Irgyz, connecting to the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), during the National Kurultai in March.The new road corridor is expected to provide direct transportation links between the center and west of the country, create access to the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), and boost development in the Turgai region. The project implementation will shorten the distance between Astana and the village of Irgyz by 573 km.On June 16, 2025, the start of road construction was announced.The road will feature two lanes with a width of 8 meters and span 865 km along the route: Astana - Zhanteke - Yegindykol - Arkalyk - Torghay - Irgyz. The transportation network will cover 13 settlements with a total population of 70,000 people.The Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR) is an international transport corridor traversing China, Kazakhstan, the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and onward to Turkey and European countries.CITIC Group (China International Trust & Investment Corporation) is a major Chinese state-owned investment corporation. (ICE ALMATY)

Fonte notizia: INTERFAX