Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Group Chairman and CEO of DP World
Trade is a vital part of economic development and with the addition of Kazakhstan to the World Logistics Passport, the nation is accelerating its future economic growth.
Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Group Chairman and CEO of DP World
Dubai, United Arab Emirates,
21
December
2020
|
06:56
Europe/Amsterdam

Kazakhstan joins World Logistics Passport as hub for Central Asia

- Membership will enable Kazakhstan to increase exports to Latin America and Africa

- Kazakhstan is the third country to formally join the initiative, after Colombia and Senegal. Brazil, Uruguay and South Africa are also registered as partners

The Republic of Kazakhstan is boosting its position as a trade hub for Europe and Asia by joining the World Logistics Passport (WLP), a major initiative established to increase trading opportunities between developing markets.

His Excellency Bakhyt Sultanov, Minister of Trade and Integration, Republic of Kazakhstan, and Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Chairman of Dubai's Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation, signed a Memorandum of Understanding. The WLP creates opportunities for business and governments to actively improve existing trading routes, and develop new ones, through the creation of the world's first logistics loyalty programme for freight forwarders and traders. It has been created to overcome trade impediments, such as logistics inefficiency, that currently limit the growth of trade between developing markets.

As countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America are dependent on developed nations for their exports and trade and relatively little with each other, the WLP makes it easier for those regions to diversify trade in existing products and increase market shares in key products among other developing economies.

Under the leadership of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Kazakhstan is the third country to formally join Dubai in sharing expertise to smooth trade flows around the world, after Colombia and Senegal. Brazil, Uruguay and South Africa are also registered as partners of the WLP. Joining the WLP creates an opportunity for Kazakhstan to diversify its exports and imports from Europe and China to growing markets in Latin America and Africa.

Bakhyt Sultanov, Minister of Trade and Integration, Government of Kazakhstan, said: "Kazakhstan can become a link between the Belt and Road Initiative and the World Logistics Passport. This will open up new opportunities in the field of transport and logistics, revealing the entire transit potential of the country. Almaty will become the key logistics hub of Kazakhstan. The strategic location of the city allows to increase the share of Kazakhstan's trade between China and Europe. Almaty also provides access to markets in the region such as the Eurasian Economic Union, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and the Economic Cooperation Organisation, and can be a gateway between these markets and the World Logistics Passport partners. Almaty airport will become an air hub offering a wide range of world-class services."

Membership of the World Logistics Passport will enable Kazakhstan to access lesser tapped markets. The country's strategic location allows Almaty, its largest city, to increase its share of trade between China and Europe via Rail.

Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Chairman of Dubai's Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation said: "Trade is a vital part of economic development and with the addition of Kazakhstan to the World Logistics Passport, the nation is accelerating its future economic growth. The WLP – with Dubai's expertise in logistics at its core – is helping to reimagine how goods and services move around the world, increase resilience in global supply chains and remove the barriers that prevent nations such as Kazakhstan from trading as prosperously as they might."

About DP World

We are the leading provider of worldwide smart end-to-end supply chain & logistics, enabling the flow of trade across the globe. Our comprehensive range of products and services covers every link of the integrated supply chain – from maritime and inland terminals to marine services and industrial parks as well as technology-driven customer solutions.

We deliver these services through an interconnected global network of 128 business units in 60 countries across six continents, with a significant presence both in high-growth and mature markets. Wherever we operate, we integrate sustainability and responsible corporate citizenship into our activities, striving for a positive contribution to the economies and communities where we live and work.

Our dedicated, diverse and professional team of more than 53,220 employees from 131 countries is committed to delivering unrivalled value to our customers and partners. We do this by focussing on mutually beneficial relationships – with governments, shippers, traders, and other stakeholders along the global supply chain – relationships built on a foundation of mutual trust and enduring partnership.

We think ahead, anticipate change and deploy industry-leading technology to further broaden our digital vision to disrupt world trade and create the smartest, most efficient and innovative solutions, while ensuring a positive and sustainable impact on economies, societies and our planet.

 

About the World Logistics Passport

The WLP is a unique loyalty programme overcomes non-tariff trade barriers by fast-tracking cargo movement, reducing administrative costs, advancing cargo information and facilitating movement between ports and airports.

Traders and freight forwarders get increased benefits the more they trade through member hubs. The benefits include cost and time savings, and faster customs clearances. Member countries are part of a club of trading nations sharing expertise to smooth trade flows around the world.

Unlocking these benefits allows nations and regions to gain access to new markets, diversify trade in existing products and increase market shares in key export products in developing economies.

Senegal, Kazakhstan and Colombia were the first member countries to formally join Dubai in sharing expertise to smooth trade flows around the world. Brazil, South Africa and Uruguay are also registered as partners of the WLP.

The WLP is developed in partnership with key Dubai logistics entities such as DP World, Emirates SkyCargo and the Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation (PCFC).