ASTANA, Kazakhstan, July 16. The World Bank expects approval of a project to improve the transport sustainability and connectivity of the corridor between Zhezkazgan and Karaganda in Kazakhstan by November 2024, said Andrei Mikhnev, World Bank Country Manager for Kazakhstan, during a government meeting, TurkicWorld reports.
"The World Bank is focused on preparing a project to improve the transport sustainability and connectivity of the corridor between Zhezkazgan and Karaganda. It is envisaged that the World Bank's partner in this project will be the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. Investments will modernize the Karaganda-Zhezkazgan road, have a positive impact on the development of the region, including the Ulytau, improve the well-being of the population, and contribute to strengthening domestic and international transport integration," he said.
Mikhnev noted that this project is being built under the first technical category with four-lane traffic, taking into account the prospective traffic intensity for 20 years. An additional advantage of the project is the strengthening of the multimodality of the Middle Corridor in Kazakhstan.
"As part of this project, for the first time in Kazakhstan, the principles of OPBRC (Output- and Performance-based Road Contract) contracts will be introduced, based on results, where the contractor himself will design, build, and subsequently maintain the road infrastructure," he added.
According to him, the introduction of institutional development will ensure improved management in the transport sector, optimize the efficiency of construction contracts and road maintenance, promote climate sustainability, digitalize the road industry, and contribute to road safety.
"Currently, competitive procedures have begun for the procurement of construction work on 7 sections of the road with a length of about 500 kilometers. The tender procedures also provide for innovations in the application of evaluation criteria aimed at supporting the construction sector of Kazakhstan, stimulating the priority participation of Kazakh companies in competitive procedures, and developing their qualifications and potential," Mikhnev said.
The country manager pointed out that the World Bank is preparing the project at an accelerated pace.
"It is expected that the preparatory work will be completed, and the project will be approved by the bank's board of directors by November of this year. In parallel with the entry into force of the project, tender procedures will be completed, which will allow construction work to begin immediately," he added.
Notably, the World Bank's total loan amount for Kazakhstan exceeds $9.17 billion. Kazakhstan took 23rd place among the countries with the largest volume of the loan portfolio from the WB.
The World Bank's cooperation in Kazakhstan spans more than 30 years and is presently governed by the Kazakhstan Country Cooperation Framework (CPF 2020–2025).
