The key facts
- Tokayev proposed a partnership between the Port of Antwerp-Bruges and the ports of Aktau and Kuryk within the Middle Corridor
- Talks with the port are underway, said Samruk-Kazyna head Nurlan Zhakupov
- 17 agreements were signed on the sidelines of the forum; about 44,000 TEU (+58%) were transported along the corridor in the first 8 months of 2026
Proposal for a port partnership
President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, at a meeting of the Belgian-Kazakh Business Council in Astana attended by King Philippe and Queen Mathilde, proposed establishing a partnership between the Port of Antwerp-Bruges and Kazakhstan's Caspian ports of Aktau and Kuryk. According to him, the country is actively investing in railways, highways, seaports and terminals along the Middle Corridor. 'Belgium's experience as a major European logistics hub is especially valuable for us. Such a partnership could open broader markets for our metals, petrochemicals and agricultural products,' Euronews quotes him as saying. King Philippe also expressed support for the Middle Corridor, calling for strengthening the route's links with European ports, railways and logistics hubs.
Talks and economic viability
A day before the forum, the chief executive of the sovereign wealth fund Samruk-Kazyna, Nurlan Zhakupov, told journalists on the sidelines of the official welcoming ceremony for the royal couple at Akorda that talks with the Port of Antwerp-Bruges are already underway. Kazakhstan is interested in using the Belgian port's expertise and ultimately expects to reach concrete agreements and logistics contracts. In a comment to Euronews, Zhakupov stressed that the route's viability ultimately depends on its economic efficiency: 'The Middle Corridor must make economic sense and bring benefits. That is why the talks continue — it is a big and complex process. I think concrete results are not far off.'
Practical challenges of the route
The Port of Antwerp-Bruges was not represented at the business council, but the discussion focused on the practical problems of the Middle Corridor. Dave van den Bos, CEO of Ahlers Logistics, told Euronews that, despite ongoing infrastructure investment, one of the main difficulties is coordinating the handover of cargo among numerous companies and agencies: a single shipment from Europe to Kazakhstan may involve up to 15 different organisations. 'Digitalisation is the most important thing. Even if there is throughput capacity, waiting for a green light or a stamp at the border still creates delays. Fixing infrastructure is easier than digitalising it,' he noted. According to him, transit time from Europe to Kazakhstan has fallen from about 80 to 40–60 days, although port congestion and weather on the Caspian still cause delays.
Figures and cargo flow targets
According to Kazakhstan's national railway company Kazakhstan Temir Zholy, in the first eight months of 2026 about 44,000 TEU (twenty-foot equivalent units) were transported along the Middle Corridor, 58% more than in the same period last year. Kazakhstan aims to increase the total volume of cargo along the route to 10 million tonnes — a goal Tokayev has previously announced. The Middle Corridor, also known as the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, connects China with Europe via Kazakhstan, the Caspian Sea and the South Caucasus, offering an alternative to traditional east-west routes.
Investment and critical raw materials
Belgium ranks among the ten largest investors in Kazakhstan: more than $15 billion has been invested in the country over the past two decades, Tokayev said. On the sidelines of the forum, 17 agreements were signed in the fields of logistics, agriculture and food processing, artificial intelligence, energy, healthcare and manufacturing. Tokayev also addressed critical raw materials: Kazakhstan already produces 21 of the 34 types of raw materials considered critical for European industry and supplies titanium and molybdenum products to Belgium. 'By combining our resource potential with Belgian investment, technology and expertise, we can build a strategic partnership in this vital area,' he said.
First state visit of the Belgian monarch
The visit of King Philippe and Queen Mathilde is the first state visit by a Belgian monarch to Kazakhstan and to the Central Asian region as a whole. President Tokayev welcomed the royal couple with an official ceremony at the Akorda presidential palace, followed by talks. The visit takes place ahead of the 35th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries, which will be celebrated next year. 'Your visit gives new impetus to preparations for this important anniversary,' said Tokayev, calling Belgium a long-standing and reliable partner of Kazakhstan in Europe. King Philippe noted that the delegation accompanying him includes representatives of a wide range of promising industries. As part of the visit, Tokayev and the royal couple visited the National Museum, the National Children's Rehabilitation Centre and the Alem.ai International Centre for Artificial Intelligence in Astana; the programme also included a rectors' forum and a round table on critical minerals. The King and Queen will continue their visit in Almaty.
