Industrial cooperation center on the Uzbekistan-Kazakhstan border planned to open in 2027

On February 5, the Mazhilis of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan approved the corresponding draft law. Arman Shakkaliyev, the Minister of Trade and Integration, who was present at the session, emphasized that the agreement is aimed at implementing the decision of the Intergovernmental Commission on bilateral cooperation.

The center will be located near the Gulistan-Atameken border crossing, the minister announced. Construction is expected to be completed by the fourth quarter of 2026, with the official opening scheduled for the first half of 2027.

The complex will span 100 hectares, with 50 hectares allocated to Kazakhstan and the other 50 to Uzbekistan. It will house production facilities, warehouses, and transportation infrastructure. The Global Textile textile production is also planned to be located there.

The opening of the center is expected to expedite freight transportation, reduce costs, and boost cooperation within the "North-South" corridor. The launch will contribute to the creation of industries and jobs in sectors such as mechanical engineering, metalworking, pharmaceuticals, electrical engineering, chemical production, and leather goods.

Shakkaliyev noted that the infrastructure for both the internal and external components of the complex will be funded by the investor, who will be selected through a competitive process conducted by the Turkestan region administration. Work on developing the project design and cost estimate documentation is already underway.

The Intergovernmental Commission decided to establish the cross-border industrial cooperation center in November 2023, and in August 2024, Shavkat Mirziyoyev signed decrees to regulate its operations.