Latest news with #DamirKozhakhmetov
Arabian Post
a day ago
- Business
- Arabian Post
GulfLink Launches to Reinforce Eurasian Trade Artery
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai AD Ports Group has initiated operations of GulfLink Ltd, entering a strategic logistics partnership with KTZ Express, the freight arm of Kazakhstan Temir Zholy. This joint venture—51 percent owned by AD Ports and 49 percent by KTZ Express—is designed to enhance connectivity along the Middle Corridor, establishing a vital multimodal supply link between Asia and Europe. The first shipments through GulfLink began under the leadership of regional CEO Abdulaziz Zayed AlShamsi, who described the venture as 'a key link in our strategy to upgrade the Middle Corridor route through Central Asia into a major, commercial East‑West trade artery linking consumers and manufacturers in Asia and Europe'. General Director Damir Kozhakhmetov emphasised that GulfLink delivers 'a new level of unique, end‑to‑end connectivity for Kazakhstan regionally and globally'. ADVERTISEMENT Kazakhstan, where rail accounts for approximately 70 percent of freight transit over its 16,000 km network, is central to this development. GulfLink will bolster supply chains by integrating Kazakhstan's rail infrastructure with routes through Pakistan, Türkiye, the Arabian Gulf and the Indian subcontinent. As part of AD Ports's commitment, over US $775 million is earmarked for logistics infrastructure in Kazakhstan. Planned investments include a grain terminal and a multipurpose facility at Kuryk Port, aimed at complementing GulfLink's multimodal ambitions. The network also encompasses partnerships in Uzbekistan, and facilities on the Black and Caspian Seas via collaboration with KazMorTransFlot. Industry analysts say GulfLink could significantly reduce China‑to‑Europe transit times. AGBI reports that the route will 'cut China‑Europe transit time' by providing direct regional connectivity and bypassing the longer northern rail corridors. This enhancement aligns with global supply chain trends that favour diversification and damper dependency on any single corridor. CEO Kamal Huseynov stated that GulfLink plans to offer 'value added to customers through our relationships, the logistics resources of our shareholders, and our commitment to efficiency, innovation, seamless supply chains and optimised trade'. The venture seeks to become the operating hub for integrated rail, road, sea and air transport in Central Asia. Reactions from regional stakeholders suggest that GulfLink's launch may mark a turning point in Eurasian logistics. The joint venture is seen as vital in realising the potential of the Trans‑Caspian International Transport Route—an alternative to the traditional northern rail line through Russia—and is projected to attract new trade volumes via diversified pathways. AD Ports's existing regional presence includes a food logistics hub in Uzbekistan and maritime assets in Türkiye and Pakistan. GulfLink's launch reinforces these assets by contributing to a cohesive network serving Europe, Central Asia and South Asia. Multimodal trade experts suggest that the GulfLink project addresses a growing appetite among manufacturers and shippers for more resilient and politically diversified supply channels. With geopolitical uncertainties persisting along certain northern corridors, the Middle Corridor's expansion could offer a strategically advantageous and timely alternative. The operational phase of GulfLink has commenced with pilot shipments underway, signalling the beginning of active corridor use. AD Ports and KTZ Express intend to progressively scale the venture, adding capacity, routing regularity and service coverage over the coming months. As GulfLink gains momentum, its success will depend on coordinated infrastructure roll‑out, regulatory alignment across transit jurisdictions, and competitive transit times compared with existing corridors. Analysts agree the venture marks a significant step toward reshaping logistics flows across Eurasia, affirming Kazakhstan's growing prominence as a logistics hub and AD Ports Group's strategy to establish itself as a global trade infrastructure enabler.
Al Etihad
4 days ago
- Business
- Al Etihad
AD Ports Group, Kazakhstan Railways commence operations of GulfLink joint venture
9 July 2025 15:36 ASTANA (WAM) AD Ports Group announced today the commencement of operations of its Central Asian logistics joint venture, GulfLink Ltd., with KTZ Express, the freight arm of Kazakhstan 51% percent owned by AD Ports Group, and 49% by KTZ Express JSC, a multimodal transport and logistics subsidiary of Kazakhstan Railways (Kazakhstan Temir Zholy, or KTZ), aims to transform Central Asia's logistics landscape, where AD Ports Group has been building a presence in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Zayed AlShamsi, Regional CEO - AD Ports Group, said, 'We are pleased to announce the commencement of operations for our GulfLink joint venture with KTZ Express in Kazakhstan, one of Central Asia's fastest growing economies, and a key link in our strategy to upgrade the Middle Corridor route through Central Asia into a major, commercial East-West trade artery linking consumers and manufacturers in Asia and Europe. Under the wise guidance of our leadership in the UAE, AD Ports Group welcomes the chance to deepen its extensive engagement in Kazakhstan, and the region, to drive economic growth through global connectivity, benefiting the people of Kazakhstan and Central Asia.'Through GulfLink, AD Ports Group and KTZ Express are offering new cargo connectivity through Central Asia, and globally, through Pakistan, Türkiye, the Arabian Gulf, and the Indian subcontinent. GulfLink will focus on developing international transport corridors and strengthening Kazakhstan's integration in the global logistics system by creating more resilient and efficient supply Director and Chairman of the Management Board of KTZ Express, Damir Kozhakhmetov, said, 'We welcome this opportunity to shape the future of global logistics in Kazakhstan and Central Asia with GulfLink, our bold, value-enhancing joint venture partnership with AD Ports Group that will provide a new level of unique, end-to-end connectivity for Kazakhstan regionally and globally, leveraging the global resources of AD Ports Group and the regional presence of Kazakhstan Railways to enhance transport infrastructure and expand trade flows.'With 16,000 km of rail lines, KTZ is one of the largest railroads and one of the most strategically important state-owned enterprises in Central Kazakhstan, a country where approximately 70% of freight moves by rail, state-owned KTZ provides key logistics access along all major corridors through Central Asia with Europe, China, Türkiye, and the broader Caucasus Executive Officer of GulfLink, Kamal Huseynov, said, 'GulfLink will play a major role in providing critical connectivity between Kazakhstan, the Central Asia region, and the world, through enhanced connectivity, and the combined infrastructure resources of AD Ports Group and KTZ Express, leveraging Kazakhstan's central position. We will bring value added to customers through our relationships, the logistics resources of our shareholders, and our commitment to efficiency, innovation, seamless supply chains and optimised trade.'As the primary transit hub for Central Asia, GulfLink is ideally positioned to leverage Kazakhstan's geographic advantage as a logistics centre for multimodal connectivity, providing unparalleled 360-degree connectivity by rail, road, air, and sea to all destinations in Europe, Asia, and points services via GulfLink, which has a broad strategic objective to provide connectivity across the region, will be carried out along a variety of routes in all directions, following well-established, as well as new and emerging trade GulfLink will play a key role in supporting the Group's Central Asian strategy to revive and develop the Middle Corridor, the shortest East-West link between manufacturers in China and Europe, into a major commercial supply artery, supporting the region's growth by improving connectivity with the global Ports Group is a major investor in developing the Middle Corridor into a viable emerging East-West trade route, with announced investment commitments in Kazakhstan alone of $775 million. Over the last three years, the Group has added ship operations with local Kazakh partner 'KazMorTransFlot' in the Black and Caspian seas, and has plans to launch a logistics and food trading hub business in Group is also jointly investing with local partners in Kazakhstan to build a grain terminal, and has preliminary plans to develop a multipurpose terminal at Kuryk Port. The Group's emerging Central Asian route network links to the Group's ports and maritime assets in Türkiye and Pakistan.
