Green transport corridors as a factor of sustainable competitive advantages of Kazakhstan in Central Asia

The article provides an empirical and analytical assessment of Kazakhstan’s ability to transform its existing transport and logistics infrastructure into a competitive advantage within Central Asia. Based on a comparison of indicators for 2020–2024 and a case-study analysis, the authors demonstrate the country’s substantial infrastructural capacity-including an extensive railway network, port connectivity through the Caspian Sea, and key border crossings with China-which has supported a notable increase in transit volumes. The analysis of technological and institutional developments highlights progress in the digitalization of operations (electronic documentation and tracking platforms), partial railway electrification, and the expansion of renewable-energy initiatives. The authors show that the combination of digital traceability and technical modernization creates the foundations for the commercialization of low-carbon transport corridors; at the same time, several constraints are identified, including uneven electrification, the need for accurate verification of energy consumption and the share of renewables, as well as fragmented regional digital integration, which collectively limit the full realization of this potential. The results have practical significance for policy formation and investment strategies in the field of transit logistics.

1. UNCTAD. Global Supply Chain Resilience, Challenges and Transformation. Geneva, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, 2022. URL: https://unctad.org/system/files/official-document/cimem7d26_ru.pdf (accessed: 10.04.2026) (In English)

2. Statistical Committee of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Transport in the Republic of Kazakhstan: October 2025. URL: https://stat.gov.kz/ru/industries/business-statistics/stat-transport/publications/355049 (accessed: 10.04.2026) (In English)

3. Dosmuratova E., Niyazbekova R. (2025) Problems of Implementation of “Green” Logistics in Kazakhstan Organizations // Trudy Universiteta, no. 2(99), pp. 319–328. https://doi.org/10.52209/16091825_2025_2_319 (In English)

4. International Organization for Standardization. ISO 14083: Greenhouse Gases – Quantification and Reporting of Greenhouse Gas Emissions Arising from Transport Chain Operations. Geneva, ISO, 2023. URL: https://www.iso.org/standard/iso-14083.html (accessed: 11.04.2026) (In English)

5. European Commission, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. Study on Sustainable Transport Connections between Europe and Central Asia. Brussels, Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport, 2023. URL: https://transport.ec.europa.eu/system/files/2023-07/COM_2023_440.pdf (accessed: 11.04.2026) (In English)

6. Vinokurov E. (ed.), Amangeldy S., Ahunbaev A., Zaboev A., Kuznetsov A., Malakhov A. (2024) The Eurasian Transport Network (ETN Report). Almaty, Eurasian Development Bank. 120 p. URL: https://eabr.org/upload/iblock/e13/1_EDB_ETN_Report_Eng.pdf (accessed: 11.04.2026) (In English)

7. Eurasian Development Bank. Eurasian Transport Network: Projects Observatory and Interactive Map (EDB Working Paper). 2025. URL: https://eabr.org/en/analytics/special-reports/eurasian-transport-networkprojects-observatory-and-interactive-map (accessed: 11.04.2026) (In English)

8. World Bank. Tajikistan Transport Sector Assessment: Policy Document. Washington, D.C.: World Bank, 2023. URL: https://documents1.worldbank.org/curated/en/099092623014531653/pdf/P178333a60ab271e0204c42a4dedb606c2dd5d0.pdf (accessed: 11.04.2026) (In English)

9. Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. Transport Resilience and Connectivity Enhancement – Kazakhstan: Project Documents. Beijing, AIIB, 2024. URL: https://www.aiib.org/en/projects/details/2024/_download/Kazakhstan/AIIB-P000914-_Transport-Resilience-and-Connectivity-Enhancement-Project_withAnnexes-clean-for-Disclosure.pdf (accessed: 11.04.2026) (In English)

10. Asian Transport Observatory. Transport and Climate Profile – Kazakhstan. 2024. URL: https://asiantransportobservatory.org/documents/205/Kazakhstan-transport-and-climate-policy.pdf (accessed: 11.04.2026) (In English)

11. PrimeMinister.kz. Execution of the President’s Instruction on Creating a Transport Framework: Kazakhstan Modernizes Railway Network and Strengthens Transit Potential // Official Information Source of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan. 2025. 19 August. URL: https://primeminister.kz/en/news/execution-of-the-presidents-instruction-on-creating-a-transport-framework-kazakhstan-modernizes-railwaynetwork-and-strengthens-transit-potential-30413 (accessed: 11.04.2026) (In English)

12. Gruzooborot porta Kuryk (Kazahstan) v 2024 godu sostavil bolee 1,9 mln tonn // PortNews.ru. 2025. 28 janvarja. URL: https://portnews.ru/news/372836 (accessed 11.04.2026) (In Russian)

13. Transport and Logistics Centers in Uzbekistan Granted Status of International Dry Ports // UzDaily. 2025. 17 November. URL: https://www.uzdaily.uz/en/24-transport-and-logistics-centers-in-uzbekistan-granted-status-of-international-dry-ports (accessed: 22.03.2026) (In English)

14. World Bank. Uzbekistan: Building Blocks for Integrated Transport and Logistics Development: Policy Paper. Washington, D.C.: World Bank, 2020. URL: https://documents1.worldbank.org/curated/en/620601593145818606/pdf/Uzbekistan-Building-Blocks-for-Integrated-Transport-and-LogisticsDevelopment-Policy-Paper.pdf (accessed: 22.03.2026) (In English)

15. United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific. Study on Resilience of Road and Rail Infrastructure in Kyrgyzstan. Bangkok, UNESCAP, 2021. URL: https://www.unescap.org/sites/default/d8files/event-documents/KYR-UNDA-RECI-final.pdf (accessed: 11.04.2026) (In English)

16. Railway Sector Assessment for Turkmenistan. Manila: Asian Development Bank, 2021. 46 p. URL: https://www.carecprogram.org/uploads/CAREC-CRA-TKM_8th_WEB.pdf (accessed: 11.04.2026) (In English)

17. Jonkeren O., Francke J., Visser J. (2019) A shift-share based tool for assessing the contribution of a modal shift to the decarbonisation of inland freight transport // European Transport Research Review, vol. 11, article 8. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12544-019-0344-x (In English)

18. Barney J.B. (1991) Firm Resources and Sustained Competitive Advantage // Journal of Management, vol. 17, no. 1, pp. 99–120. https://doi.org/10.1177/014920639101700108 (In English)

19. North D.C. (1990) Institutions, Institutional Change and Economic Performance. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press. 159 p. https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511808678 (In English)

20. Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism: What It Is, How It Works and What Are the Effects. Paris, OECD, 2025. URL: https://www.oecd.org/en/blogs/2025/03/eu-carbon-border-adjustment-mechanism-what-is-it-how-does-it-work-and-what-arethe-effects.html (accessed: 12.04.2026) (In English)

21. Government of Kazakhstan. Increase the Share of Renewable Energy in Total Electricity Production to 6% by 2025 and to at Least 50% by 2050: Press Release. 2025. URL: https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/energo/press/news/details/157790 (accessed: 09.04.2026) (In English)

22. Bellora C., Fontagné L., Fouré J. (2023) The EU Carbon BorderAdjustment Mechanism: Impact on Trade and Emissions // Energy Economics, vol. 118, р. 106525. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eneco.2023.106525 (In English)

23. Smart Freight Centre. Global Logistics Emissions Council Framework for Logistics Emissions Accounting and Reporting (GLEC Framework). Amsterdam: Smart Freight Centre, 2019. URL: https://smart-freight-centre-media.s3.amazonaws.com/documents/2019_GLEC_Framework_July_2022.pdf (accessed: 11.04.2026) (In English)

24. Khallaf A., Abdallah A. A.-N., Zoubi T. (2024) Blockchain-Driven Carbon Accountability in Supply Chains // Sustainability, vol. 16, no. 24, pp. 10872. https://doi.org/10.3390/su162410872 (In English)

25. European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. Transition Report 2024–25: Country Assessment – Kazakhstan. London, EBRD, 2024. URL: https://2024.trebrd.com/country/kazakhstan/index.html (accessed: 08.04.2026) (in English)