ISAS Insights

One of the trends in modern international relations is the rapid shift from the political strata to more economic dimensions. This is evident in the actions of world powers in their race for economic development through the improvement of integration processes, creation of regional trade and economic platforms as well as trade routes. In this regard, the shift by developing countries towards realising the goals of the Fourth Industrial Revolution can be characterised as a process dictated by the order of the day. Currently, more than 90 per cent of the freight traffic between Asia and Europe is via maritime routes. However, in the medium term, a certain share of this impressive volume of goods will be transported via land routes. This will increase the transit and transport potential of Central Asia, particularly Kazakhstan, which could play a significant role in this new scenario. Moreover, given the modern geopolitical realities, Central Asia could become an important transit corridor between Europe and China.