Kazakhstan joins E-Freight in a bid to boost the country’s transit potential

All airports and most airlines in Kazakhstan are now connected to the E-Freight information system, which is expected to enhance the country’s appeal for cargo transportation and transit, according to the Ministry of Transport.

«As part of a strategy to develop Kazakhstan’s transport and logistics potential through 2030, the ministry has introduced the E-Freight information system to streamline paperless documentation in the field of air cargo transportation. This will improve the efficiency of processing air waybills, reduce average cargo handling time from one day to one hour, and boost the overall attractiveness of air cargo transportation and transit through Kazakhstan,» the agency said.

In addition, transport officials plan to integrate E-Freight with Keden, the customs information system, and Agriculture, the sanitary and quarantine services system. This integration is expected to optimize business processes and increase operational efficiency.

The project was implemented through a public-private partnership and funded by a private partner. As a result, the system’s users are expected to cover its operational costs.

More broadly, Kazakhstan is working to align its airport infrastructure with the standards of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the International Air Transport Association (IATA). Currently, eight airports in Kazakhstan are rated 4E under ICAO standards.

For example, Sary Arka Airport in Karaganda is being transformed into a multimodal hub, with plans to increase its cargo capacity from the current 15,000 tons to 200,000 tons. The airport’s development program is expected to run through 2030.