Mohammad Shakibi Nasab made these remarks on the sidelines of a visit by Farzaneh Sadegh, Minister of Roads and Urban Development, to Kazakhstan's ports and during negotiations with Kazakh officials.

"Kazakhstan, spanning over 2.7 million square kilometers, enjoys trans-regional connectivity with Europe and Iran through its eastern link to China via the Khorgos dry port and its western connection through the ports of Aktau and Kuryk," Shakibi nasab stated.

Kazakhstan: A Key Logistics Hub

Emphasizing Kazakhstan's strategic importance, Shakibi Nasab noted: "During this trip, accompanied by the Minister of Roads and Urban Development, we visited the ports of Kuryk and Aktau, assessed their actual capacities, and evaluated the volume of trade exchanges with Iranian ports."

Accelerating Iranian Goods Clearance

The managing director highlighted that discussions during the visit covered cooperation on customs clearance procedures and expediting the exit of Iranian goods. "Another topic was forming a consortium to monitor the declining water level in the Caspian Sea and the measures Caspian littoral states should take to address this issue," he added.

Establishing a Regular Shipping Line in the Caspian Sea

Shakibi Nasab further stated: "The establishment of a regular shipping line in the Caspian Sea between the ports of Aktau and Kuryk and Iran's northern ports was also discussed. 

Kazakh Investment Agreement at Shahid Rajaee Port

The Deputy Minister expressed optimism about resolving private sector challenges through policy-making and planning. "As Kazakh entities are set to sign a contract on June 27 to establish a logistics center at Shahid Rajaee Port, we hope to see Iranian private sector investment in the ports of Aktau and Kuryk. It was agreed that necessary land plots would be allocated to Iranian private investors to facilitate bilateral trade development, enabling Iranian economic actors to fully leverage Kazakhstan's port capacities," he noted.

Electronic Document Exchange on the Agenda

Shakibi Nasab also addressed electronic document exchange, stating: "It was decided that transport documents, including manifests and sea waybills, would be exchanged electronically, minimizing customs clearance procedures. This is expected to reduce costs and make tariffs more competitive."