New Industrial Cooperation Center to Open on Uzbekistan-Kazakhstan Border in 2027
Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan to Establish “Central Asia” Industrial Cooperation Center
Kazinform has reported that an international industrial cooperation center named “Central Asia” is in the works between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. The investor is currently in the process of developing the project design and cost estimate documentation for this ambitious project.
The draft law for the establishment of the center was recently approved by the Mazhilis of the Parliament of Kazakhstan on February 5. Arman Shakkaliyev, the Minister of Trade and Integration, highlighted that this agreement is in line with the decision of the Intergovernmental Commission on bilateral cooperation.
The location for the center has been announced to be near the Gulistan-Atameken border crossing. Construction is expected to be completed by the fourth quarter of 2026, with the official opening set for the first half of 2027. The complex will cover 100 hectares, with half allocated to each country. It will include production facilities, warehouses, transportation infrastructure, and a textile production plant.
The establishment of the “Central Asia” industrial cooperation center aims to streamline freight transportation, reduce costs, and enhance cooperation within the “North-South” corridor. This initiative is expected to create new industries and jobs in various sectors such as mechanical engineering, metalworking, pharmaceuticals, electrical engineering, chemical production, and leather goods.
Funding for the infrastructure of the complex will be provided by the selected investor, chosen through a competitive process led by the Turkestan region administration. The work on developing the project design and cost estimate documentation is already underway.
The decision to establish this cross-border industrial cooperation center was made in November 2023 by the Intergovernmental Commission, and in August 2024, decrees were signed by Shavkat Mirziyoyev to regulate its operations. This project is poised to strengthen economic ties and foster development between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan in the years to come.
