BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 10. Kazakhstan and the EU plan to implement joint projects within the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Roman Vasilenko said at a briefing, Trend reports via Kazakh media.
"One of the promising areas of cooperation with the EU is the development of alternative routes transport routes. Currently, major work is underway to improve TITR's capacities," he said.
According to the deputy minister, the results of the technical feasibility study of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) on TITR's development is expected to be presented on the sidelines of the second Central Asia-EU Economic Forum in Kazakhstan's Almaty, which is scheduled for May 2023.
He said that Germany has carried out a number of major industrial projects in Kazakhstan, adding that the visit of German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier to the country, which is expected this year, should give a new impetus to this cooperation.
Moreover, according to Vasilenko, the cooperation with another Kazakhstan's partner from the EU, France, is dynamically developing. Following the visit of the President of Kazakhstan to France, 35 agreements were signed.
Currently, a project is being implemented for the construction of a 1 GW wind farm by French Total Energies in the Zhambyl region. The plant is scheduled to be put into operation in 2026-2027. Its cost is estimated at $1.9 billion.
Another French conglomerate, Alstom, plans to create centers for the production and maintenance of electric locomotives in Astana, Almaty, Zhambyl and Turkestan regions. During the implementation of this project, more than 1,000 local specialists will be trained.