Kazakhstan, China to create direct investment fund of up to $200 mln for Middle Corridor developmentKazakh Deputy Prime Minister and National Economy Minister Serik Zhumangarin discussed with Chinese Finance Minister Lan Fo'an the creation of a Kazakh-Chinese direct investment fund to develop the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), also known as the Middle Corridor, the Kazakh government's press service said."The Kazakh side proposed creating the fund at a meeting between the presidents of Kazakhstan and China in Shanghai in July this year. A Kazakh-Chinese direct investment fund with an initial target of up to $200 million and room for later expansion is currently being developed," the government said following the meeting on the sidelines of the Second Tianshan Forum on Economic Cooperation in Central Asia, being held in Almaty.To speed up the fund's launch, Zhumangarin proposed identifying the responsible financial institutions in both countries that will develop common approaches to its activities. According to the deputy prime minister, several complementary mechanisms are being created in Kazakhstan, each of which must address specific tasks.These are three main financing instruments currently being formed: Kazakh Invest Fund with the participation of Silk Road Finance Corporation, a Kazakh-Chinese direct investment fund with the participation of Baiterek National Holding and the Silk Road Fund, and project debt and insurance financing mechanisms with the participation of Baiterek, Development Bank of Kazakhstan, China Development Bank, China EximBank, Bank of China, ICBC, Sinosure and other financial institutions."I propose linking the existing and emerging mechanisms through a single Kazakh-Chinese project financing and insurance window, without setting up a new organization. That would allow us to put together a comprehensive financial package for each priority project — long-term lending, insurance coverage, guarantees, yuan financing and, where needed, equity participation," the deputy prime minister said.To test the proposed mechanism in practice, several pilot projects will be chosen and supported through every stage, from investment decision to financial close. This will help identify and clear systemic barriers that slow the implementation of major investment projects.The sides also focused on expanding cooperation with Export-Import Bank of China in financing priority infrastructure projects. Several strategically important initiatives to develop Kazakhstan's transport and utility infrastructure are now under way.The Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, also known as the Middle Corridor, links China and Central Asia with the Caucasus, Turkey and Europe via Kazakhstan, the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan and Georgia. Freight traffic along the route totaled about 4.7 million tonnes in 2025 and is expected to reach 5.5 million tonnes in 2026. (ICE ALMATY)

Fonte notizia: INTERFAX