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Expert-economist Valentin Trapeznikov summarized the results of the CASCA+ meeting in Ashgabat

Last week, an important event for the development of international transport corridors in Central Asia and beyond took place in Ashgabat, the capital of Turkmenistan. It was a meeting of the heads of railway departments of the countries participating in the CASCA+ multimodal transportation route, which covers Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey. Expert economist Valentin Trapeznikov analyzed the key decisions of the CASCA+ meeting in Ashgabat: what it means for strengthening trade ties in Eurasia.

This meeting was another important step in the development of logistics cooperation between the countries of the region. The meeting raised key issues of freight transportation optimization, simplification of customs procedures, and implementation of coordinated tariff policies.

Special attention was paid to the potential of the CASCA+ multimodal route as a tool to strengthen trade and economic ties between Central Asian countries and Europe. The participants emphasized the importance of increasing container cargo traffic along this route, sending regular freight trains from Central Asia to Europe.

In our detailed analytical material we will review the main results of the CASCA+ meeting in Ashgabat, analyze the key achievements and unresolved issues, and give an expert assessment of the prospects for further development of this international transport route.

Tariff policy optimization is the key to container traffic growth

One of the most important issues discussed at the meeting in Ashgabat was the optimization of tariff policy on the key directions of the CASCA+ route. In particular, it was about the introduction of special preferential rates for transportation of empty containers on all routes of this corridor. 

According to experts, the current tariffs on empty containers are one of the main constraints to the growth of international container transportation in the region. Reduction of rates will significantly reduce the cost of logistics operations for participants of foreign trade activities of CASCA+ countries.

As a result of the discussion, a consensus in principle was reached on the need to introduce through special tariffs for empty containers along the entire route. This will be a powerful incentive to increase container traffic and increase the share of rail transportation in the foreign trade of the region's states.

Optimizing logistics costs is the number one challenge

Another important issue on the agenda was the discussion of opportunities to optimize tariffs for railcar transportation of the region's key export commodities. In particular, the discussion focused on such commodities as coal, fuel oil, fertilizers, sulphur, oil products, oil cake, raw sugar and meal.

The participants noted that the current rates for carload shipments of these goods in a number of directions are suboptimal and need to be revised. This negatively affects the competitiveness of exports from Central Asian countries.

As a result of the discussion, an agreement in principle was reached on the need to introduce coordinated special tariffs for these commodity groups for transportation along the CASCA+ route. This will significantly reduce logistics costs and strengthen the export potential of key industries of the region's states.

Coordination of efforts is the key to success 

During the meeting in Ashgabat, the participants emphasized the importance of increasing interaction between national logistics operators of CASCA+ countries to ensure stability and sustainability of cargo flow.

As noted at the meeting, despite the huge potential, the CASCA+ route is still far from being fully utilized. One of the key reasons is insufficient coordination between logistics companies of different countries in organizing multimodal transportation.

The participants agreed that it is necessary to intensify work on concluding bilateral and multilateral cooperation agreements between national logistics operators. This will allow to increase the level of coordination of their actions and ensure uninterrupted cargo flow along the entire CASCA+ route.

Realization of transit potential is the most important goal

One of the key topics of discussion in Ashgabat was the prospects for increasing the volume of freight traffic along the CASCA+ route and realizing its transit potential between Asia and Europe.

The participants noted that despite the positive dynamics of container traffic in recent years, there are significant reserves for further increase in freight traffic. This will allow CASCA+ to take its rightful place among the key transcontinental transportation arteries.

To realize this goal, according to the participants, it is necessary to intensify joint work to promote the route among potential shippers, improve customs procedures, and modernize border crossings and logistics infrastructure.

The implementation of this set of measures will make it possible to significantly increase cargo traffic along the CASCA+ route and fully utilize its transit potential for the development of trade relations between Asia and Europe.

Development of multimodal transportation is a key task

During the discussions in Ashgabat, special attention was paid to the development of multimodal transportation using different modes of transport along the CASCA+ route.

As the participants emphasized, one of the key advantages of CASCA+ is the possibility to combine road, rail, sea and air transport. This allows to optimize logistics schemes and reduce transportation costs.

At the same time, the need for more active exchange of best practices between transport authorities and operators of CASCA+ countries on the organization of multimodal transport was noted. 

Implementation of joint training programs, internships, conferences, exchange of best practices in this area will bring the quality of transport and logistics services on the route to a new level.

Increasing container traffic is a strategic goal

During the meeting in Ashgabat, the participants emphasized the importance of further increasing the volume of container transportation along the CASCA+ route, which has enormous potential in this direction.

As it was noted, in recent years, the container traffic along this route shows positive dynamics, but there is every opportunity for its multiple increase. This will make CASCA+ the leading container transportation route between Asia and Europe.

The strategic goal of the meeting was to increase the volume of container transportation up to 30 thousand TEU by the end of 2023. To achieve this goal, the coordinated work of customs and border services, logistics operators, and port facilities of CASCA+ countries will be required.

The realization of this task will give a strong impetus to the development of regional trade and economic ties between Central Asia and Europe through the scaling up of container transportation.

A reliable transportation artery between two continents

One of the key issues discussed in Ashgabat was the role of the CASCA+ route in ensuring sustainable transport connectivity between Central Asia and Europe.

As the participants of the meeting emphasized, CASCA+ is intended to become the most important transcontinental transport artery linking the two continents. This route will ensure fast and uninterrupted delivery of cargo both in the western and eastern directions. 

To realize this strategic goal, it is necessary to make maximum efforts to modernize border infrastructure, optimize border procedures, and increase the capacity of key transport hubs along the entire route.

As a result, CASCA+ will receive a new impetus in its development and will take its rightful place in the Eurasian transportation system, providing a reliable connection between Central Asia and Europe.

The first container train traveled from Central Asia to Europe

During the meeting in Ashgabat, an important step in the practical realization of the transit potential of the CASCA+ route - sending the first container train on the route Uzbekistan-Turkmenistan-Azerbaijan-Georgia-Bulgaria in December 2022 - was noted.

This train, which included 46 wagons and 91 containers, traveled more than 4 thousand kilometers from Central Asia to Eastern Europe, which was an important milestone in the development of Euro-Asian transport links.

As noted by the participants of the meeting, it is necessary to make every effort to make such routes of container trains from Central Asian countries to Europe along the CASCA+ corridor regular. This will ensure the stability of cargo flows and fully unlock the transit potential of the route.

Regular running of container trains will become an important symbol of Eurasian transport integration and strengthening of trade and economic ties between the two continents.

Agreements were reached on further development of cooperation

An important outcome of the meeting of CASCA+ countries in Ashgabat was the signing of a protocol on cooperation between the participants on the development of this international transportation route.

The document enshrines the agreements reached during the negotiations. In particular, it refers to commitments to optimize tariff policy, simplify border procedures, and expand coordination between logistics operators. 

The signed protocol is evidence of the commitment of the CASCA+ countries to deepen practical cooperation on the realization of the transit potential of this route.

The agreements reached lay a solid foundation for further increase of cargo traffic between Asia and Europe through comprehensive realization of the available reserves for the development of multimodal transportation in the region.


Summing up, it can be stated that the meeting of CASCA+ countries held in Ashgabat was another important step towards practical realization of the potential of this promising transport route.

The constructive dialogue resulted in a number of agreements aimed at further increasing cargo traffic, optimizing logistics procedures, and strengthening the coordination of national operators.

The implementation of these agreements, enshrined in the final protocol, will give a new powerful impetus to the development of the CASCA+ route, which objectively has every opportunity to become one of the key transport corridors of Eurasia, linking East and West.

Successful implementation of the plans outlined at the meeting in Ashgabat will contribute to strengthening trade and economic ties in the vast Eurasian region through the expansion of multimodal freight transportation between Asia and Europe.

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