Kazakhstan roads benefiting from Japanese loan

A major loan from Japan will help develop the road transport network in Kazakhstan. The Japanese government will provide a loan to the Republic of Kazakhstan worth US$76 million. The sum will be used to develop the country's road infrastructure and will boost Kazakhstan's access to European and Asian markets. The loan will allow a new bypass to be built on one of the country's main transport arteries in the southern Zhambyl province, as well as the rehabilitation of other existing routes. As Kazakhstan shares borders with Russia and China, the roads will improve the country's connectivity with Western and Eastern markets. The project focuses on a portion of an international transportation network that would connect Europe and Asia, under guidelines proposed by the Central Asian Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC). The roads targeted by the project are also part of the corridor connecting the country with Afghanistan and the Arabian Sea. This is the second project to be implemented by 2416 Japan International Cooperation Agency in Central Asia under a new accelerated co-financing scheme agreement (ACFA) for development, in cooperation with the 943 Asian Development Bank (ADB). The programme adheres to the country's 'Kazakhstan 2030' plan, set out in 1997, which highlights the development of primary roadways as one of seven key targets for the country's future.