A truly remarkable and history – making event was held in Aktobe on October 10, 2009 – Conference on Launch of Transcontinental Corridor “Western Europe – Western China” Project chaired by the Minister of Transport and Communications of the Republic of Kazakhstan Abelgazi Kussainov. The overall length of the Western Europe - Western China Corridor is 8,445 km, including 2,787 km passing through the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The corridor passes through 5 oblasts of Kazakhstan: Aktobe, Kyzylorda, South Kazakhstan, Zhambyl and Almaty. Funding for the project is expected to be from three sources: republican budget, external borrowing and that of private capital (on concessions basis).
For rehabilitation of 1,644 km section GoK has signed loan agreements with the following International financial institutions (IFIs): World Bank, Asian Development Bank (ADB), European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). “Almaty-Khorgos” (301 km) and “Tashkent-Shymkent-border of Zhambyl oblast” (203 km) sections will be constructed on concessional basis.
High-ranked participants representing states – beneficiaries of this Project (China, Russia and EU), International Financial Institutions funding the Project and private sector gathered for this event.
Thus among the speakers were: Mr. Oleg Belozerov, Vice-Minister of Transport and Communications of the Russian Federation, Mr. Guang Shaonang, First Secretary of Ambassador, Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Kazakhstan, Mr.Foat Komarov, Vice-Chairman on Transport of the State Duma, Federal Assembly, Mr. Mohammed Yahya Maroofi, Secretary General, Economic Cooperation Organization, Mr. Martin Marmy, Secretary General, International Road Transport Union, Mr. Alexander Kelchevskiy, Ambassador, Head of the Center in Astana, OSCE, Mr. Ulf Hindstrom, Senior Banker of the EBRD, Mr Stephen Wermert, Director of the Permanent Mission of ADB in Kazakhstan, Mr. Walid Abdel Wahab, Director of the Infrastructure Department, Islamic Development Bank. The IBRD which allocated the biggest loan among IFIs – $2.125 bln USD - was represented by Mr. Sergei Shatalov, World Bank Country Manager in Kazakhstan.
The Conference has started with signing of Memorandum on Development of Road Freight Transport between Asia and Europe and Major World Markets via Territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan between the Ministry of Transport and Communication of RK and International Road Transport Union (IRTU) when Mr. Marmy, Secretary General of IRTU, said: “We should realize that change is life”.
All speakers at the Conference shared the opinion that this Project is unique. “It will revitalize transport system of Kazakhstan and, what is more important, meant for our children and let’s do it right”.“The Project itself is just trunk of the tree; we need branches that feed into it – other local roads”, “We are not here to construct roads and bridges for the sake of roads and bridges ”, were the key messages from the audience.
Sergei Shatalov, World Bank Country Manager for Kazakhstan, highlighted that: “2840 km of roads will be fully reconstructed under the Project. As a result we expect significant traffic increase as the new route will be 3,000 shorter that the alternative corridor connecting Europe and China. New transit corridor will be successfully competing with overland and sea routes that already link those destinations. Social and environmental impact of the Project will be also positive: improved roads safety, access to markets and health and education services.”
On behalf of private business there was an opinion that “Western Europe – Western China Project is extremely powerful and promising tool for implementing private businesses’ plans in the area of logistics”. The importance of concessions was separately pointed out as this mechanism is vital for mobilizing private investments, maintaining balance of interests and fair risk distribution.
In parallel with the Conference the ceremony of laying the first stone in the new road headed by the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev was held in the field. The highest ranked Conference participants representing countries and IFIs were invited to the ceremony, including Mr. Shatalov. At the request of President Nazarbayev Mr. Shatalov made a speech on behalf of all IFIs on the occasion of such a historic event, where he noted that Western Europe – Western China Corridor Project is the largest for the World Bank and for the region and a whole.
It is worth noting that the Project launch coincided with the 140th Anniversary of Aktobe City and local population was actively participating at all celebrating events, including the ceremony of laying the first stone in the new road.
Concluding the Conference Mr. Azat Bekturov, Vice-Minster of Transport and Communications of RK, said: “Why are we happy to have financing of the World Bank and other IFIs? It is because we know that it is not only money that we get. Money comes with knowledge and experience which will make our Project more transparent!”
For detailed information about Western Europe – Western China Project please visit our webpage
Thus among the speakers were: Mr. Oleg Belozerov, Vice-Minister of Transport and Communications of the Russian Federation, Mr. Guang Shaonang, First Secretary of Ambassador, Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Kazakhstan, Mr.Foat Komarov, Vice-Chairman on Transport of the State Duma, Federal Assembly, Mr. Mohammed Yahya Maroofi, Secretary General, Economic Cooperation Organization, Mr. Martin Marmy, Secretary General, International Road Transport Union, Mr. Alexander Kelchevskiy, Ambassador, Head of the Center in Astana, OSCE, Mr. Ulf Hindstrom, Senior Banker of the EBRD, Mr Stephen Wermert, Director of the Permanent Mission of ADB in Kazakhstan, Mr. Walid Abdel Wahab, Director of the Infrastructure Department, Islamic Development Bank. The IBRD which allocated the biggest loan among IFIs – $2.125 bln USD - was represented by Mr. Sergei Shatalov, World Bank Country Manager in Kazakhstan.
Sergei Shatalov, World Bank Country Manager for Kazakhstan, highlighted that: “2840 km of roads will be fully reconstructed under the Project. As a result we expect significant traffic increase as the new route will be 3,000 shorter that the alternative corridor connecting Europe and China. New transit corridor will be successfully competing with overland and sea routes that already link those destinations. Social and environmental impact of the Project will be also positive: improved roads safety, access to markets and health and education services.”
In parallel with the Conference the ceremony of laying the first stone in the new road headed by the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev was held in the field. The highest ranked Conference participants representing countries and IFIs were invited to the ceremony, including Mr. Shatalov. At the request of President Nazarbayev Mr. Shatalov made a speech on behalf of all IFIs on the occasion of such a historic event, where he noted that Western Europe – Western China Corridor Project is the largest for the World Bank and for the region and a whole.
RSS