Abu dhabi: AD Ports Group announced today the commencement of operations for GulfLink Ltd., a logistics joint venture with KTZ Express, the freight arm of Kazakhstan Railways. GulfLink, owned 51% by AD Ports Group and 49% by KTZ Express JSC, aims to reshape the logistics landscape of Central Asia, where AD Ports Group has been expanding its presence in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Georgia.
According to Emirates News Agency, this new venture focuses on enhancing cargo connectivity through Central Asia and globally, leveraging routes through Pakistan, Trkiye, the Arabian Gulf, and the Indian subcontinent. GulfLink’s mission is to develop international transport corridors and integrate Kazakhstan more deeply into the global logistics system, thereby creating more resilient and efficient supply chains.
Abdulaziz Zayed AlShamsi, Regional CEO of AD Ports Group, stated, “We are pleased to announce the commencement of operations for our GulfLink joint venture with KTZ Express in Kazakhstan, one of Central Asia’s fastest growing economies. This venture is a key link in our strategy to upgrade the Middle Corridor route through Central Asia into a major commercial East-West trade artery, linking consumers and manufacturers in Asia and Europe.”
Damir Kozhakhmetov, General Director and Chairman of the Management Board of KTZ Express, expressed optimism about the partnership, highlighting GulfLink’s potential to enhance end-to-end connectivity for Kazakhstan both regionally and globally. He emphasized the advantage of combining AD Ports Group’s global resources with the regional presence of Kazakhstan Railways to boost transport infrastructure and trade flows.
Kamal Huseynov, Chief Executive Officer of GulfLink, noted that the venture will play a crucial role in providing enhanced connectivity between Kazakhstan, the Central Asia region, and the world. By leveraging the combined infrastructure resources of AD Ports Group and KTZ Express, GulfLink aims to offer value-added services to customers through optimized trade and seamless supply chains.
GulfLink, positioned as the primary transit hub for Central Asia, will utilize Kazakhstan’s geographic advantage as a logistics center, providing comprehensive multimodal connectivity by rail, road, air, and sea. This strategic positioning will support the Group’s Central Asian strategy to revive and develop the Middle Corridor, the shortest East-West link between China and Europe, into a major commercial artery.
AD Ports Group has committed to investing US$775 million in Kazakhstan to develop the Middle Corridor. Over the past three years, the Group has expanded ship operations with local partner ‘KazMorTransFlot’ in the Black and Caspian seas and plans to launch a logistics and food trading hub in Uzbekistan. Additionally, the Group is collaborating with local partners in Kazakhstan to build a grain terminal and has preliminary plans to develop a multipurpose terminal at Kuryk Port.