EAEU transport leaders approve new logistics and digital cooperation measures
A high-level meeting of transport leaders from the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) took place in St. Petersburg this week. Held during the International Transport and Logistics Forum, the session was chaired by Kazakhstan's Transport Minister, Nurlan Sauranbayev. Officials reviewed progress on major transport projects and approved new measures to improve cross-border logistics and digital cooperation. The Council of Heads of Transport Authorities gathered to assess the results of the Key Directions of Transport Policy for EAEU member states—Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Armenia, and Kyrgyzstan. Arzybek Kozhoshev, the EEC's Minister for Energy and Infrastructure, presented the findings, highlighting advancements since the 2021 review of the Comprehensive Plan for the Development of Eurasian Transport Corridors. Over the past three years, cooperation has strengthened through increased funding, shared digital customs platforms, and aligned infrastructure standards.
Key achievements included the completion of the **1,500 km North-South Corridor rail link** between Kazakhstan and Russia. The **Trans-Kazakhstan Highway** was also expanded by 800 km, while border checkpoints along the Russia-Kazakhstan frontier were modernized to handle **20 million tons of cargo annually**. The meeting additionally approved a report on **improving railway capacity data exchange** and finalized new rules for special permits covering oversized vehicles, hazardous materials, and heavy freight. Discussions also covered **digitization efforts**, such as information systems for vehicle inspections at EAEU external borders and the readiness of national networks for technological testing. Kozhoshev briefed the Board on the **Subcommittee on Transport and Transit Cooperation**, formed under the EAEU-Iran free trade agreement. Ministers further reviewed plans for joint infrastructure projects with third countries and set **key performance indicators** for transport corridors, which will be integrated into the **2027–2029 Roadmap**.
The meeting concluded with agreements on data-sharing standards, corridor management, and future integration priorities. Approved measures will now be incorporated into the EAEU's transport policy roadmap for the next two years. Officials also emphasized the need for continued coordination to support trade efficiency and cross-border logistics.
