An event dedicated to the launch of the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor Coordination Platform approved within the Global Gateway Investor Forum framework was held in Astana. Marat Karabayev, Minister of Transport of the Republic of Kazakhstan, opened the event with a welcoming speech. Azamat Kozhanov, Managing Director of JSC "NC "KAZAKH INVEST," acted as moderator and speaker at the session "International Financial Institutions."

The session was devoted to discussing the latest changes in investment plans regarding infrastructure projects being implemented in Central Asia from the point of view of international financial institutions. It provided an opportunity to attract the attention of organizations willing to participate in financing these projects but have not yet had specific discussions with Governments.

"International financial institutions play a key role in attracting investments to strengthen the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor. According to a study conducted with the support of the EU, the need to finance 33 infrastructure priorities identified for Central Asia is estimated at €18.5 billion. In order for investments of this scale to become possible, it is necessary to involve a number of credit institutions and coordinate their actions on the basis of jointly determining investment priorities," A. Kozhanov said.

The platform aims to expand the functionality of the Trans-Caspian transport route and transform it into a multimodal and competitive route connecting Europe with Asia. This international transport corridor extends through China, Kazakhstan, the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and further to Turkey and European countries. The creation of the platform is the result of agreements reached at the Global Gateway Investor Forum on transport links between the EU and Central Asia, which was held in Brussels in January this year.

Representatives of Central Asian countries and other countries along the corridor, as well as international financial institutions and G7 countries that are not members of the European Union, attended the event.