Japan to support digitalization of customs services at Aktau port within Middle Corridor

Japan will support the digitalization of customs services at the port of Aktau along the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR, Middle Corridor), Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Murat Nurtleu said after the completion of negotiations with his Japanese counterpart Takashi Iwaya in Astana, Report informs.

During the negotiations with the Japanese side, special attention was paid to the transport and logistics sector, the extraction and processing of rare earth metals, as well as cooperation in eliminating the consequences of the Semipalatinsk nuclear test site on the health of Kazakhstanis.

"The Government of Japan expressed support for the digitalization of customs services at the port of Aktau along the TITR. In addition, cooperation in the field of nuclear energy, the production and export of nuclear fuel, as well as nuclear medicine has great prospects," Nurtleu said.

He recalled that Kazakhstan has rich reserves of rare and important elements necessary for green transformation and high technologies.

"Of the 32 types of raw materials required for the production of green technologies in Japan, 22 are produced in Kazakhstan. In this regard, my colleague and I expressed our intention to implement specific investment projects between Tau-Ken Samruk and the Japanese oil, gas and metals corporation JOGMEC," the Kazakh minister added.

He also noted that Japan is a traditional market for metallurgical and petrochemical products.

"The meeting discussed the prospects for concluding long-term agreements on the export of a number of non-ferrous metals, such as gallium and manganese sulfate," Nurtleu emphasized.

He once again recalled that Kazakhstan and Japan are calling on the world to abandon nuclear weapons.

"In this context, the fact that the visit of the Japanese Foreign Minister coincides with the day of the closure of the Semipalatinsk nuclear test site is of particular importance. This year marks the 80th anniversary of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki disasters, and next year marks the 35th anniversary of the closure of the Semipalatinsk test site," said Murat Nurtleu.

Upon completion of the talks, the ministers signed an intergovernmental document on the allocation of a non-repayable grant to Kazakhstan to provide assistance to victims of nuclear tests (medical equipment worth $7.4 million).

Nurtleu also confirmed the mutual intention to further develop the "Central Asia and Japan" dialogue. The parties continue consultations regarding the date and venue of the "Central Asia + Japan" summit.

"As part of the expansion of air traffic with Kazakhstan, a direct flight from Almaty to Tokyo will be opened next year," Nurtleu added.

By the end of 2024, the mutual trade turnover between Kazakhstan and Japan amounted to $2 billion.