During her visit to Kazakhstan, Sadeq toured the Khorgos Special Economic Zone and Dry Port, one of the largest transit hubs in Central Asia, and held talks with officials of the complex on its transit, railway, and logistics capacities.
During the visit, the Iranian minister was briefed on cargo loading and unloading operations, rail transport capabilities, logistics infrastructure, and development plans at the dry port.
Referring to the importance of the International North–South Transport Corridor (INSTC) and Iran’s strategic position in connecting regional countries to open waters, Sadeq said the Khorgos Dry Port possesses exceptional potential for expanding cargo transit among China, Kazakhstan, and Iran.
She added that Iran’s southern ports could serve as the shortest and most cost-effective gateway for Kazakhstan’s access to international markets.
The Khorgos Special Economic Zone and Dry Port is located on the border between China’s Xinjiang region and Kazakhstan’s Almaty region and is regarded as one of the most important overland trade gateways linking China, Central Asia, and Europe.
The dry port has the capacity to handle more than 372,000 containers annually and has reduced rail cargo transfer times to around one hour, giving it significant potential for the development of international transit corridors.
Iranian officials believe the hub can play an effective role in increasing the transit of Kazakh goods through routes connected to Iran’s southern ports.