Kazakhstan and Tajikistan agree to digitalise freight flows

Rail freight between Kazakhstan and Tajikistan grew 15% year on year, while road freight rose 8%, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev announced at a briefing in Astana following talks with Tajik President Emomali Rahmon. Growth has continued into 2026, he said.

The two leaders reached an agreement to prioritise the digitalisation of transport, which Tokayev said would ensure seamless movement of goods. Around 7 million tonnes of cargo moved between the two countries by rail and road in 2025.

What does this change for carriers?

In practical terms, the deal commits both governments to studying new transport and logistics projects. A working group — including representatives of the two national railway companies — will prepare the proposals. Tokayev credited the growth in volumes to conditions both countries created for carriers. Digitalising transport documentation and border procedures is the stated mechanism for cutting friction in the corridor.

The working group's remit covers prospects for joint transport and logistics projects. No timeline for its first deliverables was announced at the briefing, which Akorda, the Kazakh presidential administration, reported.

Water, e-government and AI on the agenda

Beyond freight, the talks covered transboundary river management. Kazakhstan and Tajikistan agreed to continue cooperation on shared water resources, to introduce digital solutions in water management, and to jointly develop systems for measuring and monitoring water resources.

Technology transfer featured prominently. Tokayev said Kazakhstan has handed over its e-government digital solutions to Tajikistan. Tajik specialists have completed training placements at Kazakh IT schools. A joint faculty of information technology, created with the participation of the Gumilyov Eurasian National University, operates at Tajik Technical University named after M. Osimi.

Kazakhstan also proposed developing and adopting a comprehensive cooperation plan with Tajikistan running to 2030.

Fourteen documents exchanged

The delegations exchanged 14 documents following the negotiations. Among them:

• a roadmap to increase bilateral trade turnover to 2030;
• a framework agreement on oil product supplies;
• a memorandum of cooperation in the field of artificial intelligence.

The roadmap on trade expansion had been reported earlier by Kursiv, the Kazakh business outlet.

The trade corridor in numbers

The headline figures frame the stakes. Seven million tonnes of cargo in 2025. Rail volumes up 15%. Road volumes up 8%. Both figures cover the twelve months to the talks, with growth extending into 2026, according to Tokayev.

For shippers and logistics operators on the Kazakhstan–Tajikistan axis, the working group's project proposals are the next milestone to watch. Its composition — national railway companies from both sides — signals that rail corridors, not just road routes, will anchor the agenda.