{"id":546480,"date":"2026-09-21T18:07:11","date_gmt":"2026-09-21T08:07:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.railfreight.com\/?p=74439"},"modified":"2026-09-21T18:07:11","modified_gmt":"2026-09-21T08:07:11","slug":"kazakhstan-invites-south-korea-to-invest-in-the-middle-corridor","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/?p=546480","title":{"rendered":"Kazakhstan invites South Korea to invest in the Middle Corridor"},"content":{"rendered":"

South Korea has been invited to invest in the Middle Corridor by Kazakhstan\u2019s President, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, at the first Central Asia-Republic of Korea Business Summit held in Seoul last week. \u201cThe Government of Kazakhstan will establish a portfolio of investment projects for Korean partners.\u201d<\/strong>
\n<\/span>This builds on a sturdy business relationship between the two countries and suggests development of the Corridor looking likely to see critical minerals moved from Kazakhstan head East for Korea\u2019s many high-tech industries. \u201cWe invite Korean companies to take the most active part in developing infrastructure projects along this route,\u201d President Tokayev said.<\/p>\n

Currently, around 85% of all land-based freight transportation between Asia and Europe goes through Kazakhstan. \u201cLast year, container traffic along the Middle Corridor increased by 36%. A significant increase of 18% was also recorded in the first eight months of this year. Over the next two years, we plan to increase the route\u2019s capacity from six to 10 million tonnes,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

Rail freight between Kazakhstan and South Korea totaled 117,800 metric tons in 2025, including 116,900 metric tons of transit cargo. In the first half of 2026, freight traffic reportedly reached 43,700 metric tons, all of it transit cargo.<\/p>\n

Looking East<\/h2>\n

The Corridor is likely to see minerals from Kazakhstan move East. \u201cWe produce copper, chromium, titanium and many other elements identified by the Government of Korea as priority strategic resources. Taking into account Korea\u2019s advanced technological expertise, we propose establishing a pool of targeted, full-cycle investment projects covering geological exploration, extraction, deep processing and the production of critical materials,\u201d the President noted.<\/p>\n

In addition to critical minerals, cars might also use the Middle Corridor. Kazakhstan and Korea are already implementing 51 industrial projects worth more than 4 billion, Tokayev noted. He added that over 170,000 vehicles were produced in the Central Asian country, representing growth of nearly 18%. \u201cThe Hyundai and Kia plants made a significant contribution to this achievement. This provides a solid foundation for our further efforts aimed at increasing localisation and producing high-tech goods with high added value,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n