“Lithuania and one of its most important partners in the Central Asia i.e. Kazakhstan share a common objective to strengthen the cooperation in transport and logistics. Therefore, we create the New Silk Road together by determining projects to be implemented in the future. I do appreciate the progress during which both countries have the possibility to reach their ambitious goals”, at the international forum “New Silk Road – efficient land bridge between Europe and Asia”, press center of Lithuania’s Ministry of Transport and Communications cites its head Rimantas Sinkevičius.
According to the Minister, one of the main arguments underlying that Lithuania acknowledges Kazakhstan as a strategic partner in the field of transport, is the establishment of the Transport Attaché office in Lithuanian diplomatic mission in Kazakhstan. In addition, final works in order to open the representative office of JSC “Lithuanian railways” are being completed for which personal attention and support was given also by Askar Mamin, the President of “Kazakhstan Temir Zholy”.
During the forum, the Minister of Transport and Communications of the Republic of Lithuania drew attention to the bureaucratic obstacles that Lithuanian carriers face when transporting goods to Kazakhstan: “Both countries experience losses due to these obstacles. We hope that the issues faced in transit can be discussed further as well as resolved during the meeting of the CIS leaders to be held near Astana (Borovo) in late June. This would be a real benefit to the New Silk Road”, said the Minister.
Three Memorandums were signed during the forum: “KTZ EXPRESS” and Klaipėda State Seaport Authority signed an agreement to cooperate more actively in the fields of investment, transit, logistics and transportation, in addition, agreements of cooperation were signed between “Kazlogistics” and “Lineka”, as well as “V. Paulius & Associates Real Estate” together with “KTZ EXPRESS”.
The cooperation in the field of transport and logistics between Kazakhstan and Lithuania started in 1993 when three intergovernmental agreements were signed. Statistical data shows that on the business development aspect Kazakhstan becomes one of the priority markets for the Lithuanian exporters. Over the past 10 years, the volume of trade between the two countries increased 12.5 times.