Экономические
науки/13.Региональная экономика
Е.Е. Dzholanov , Y. M. Ibatullin
M.Kh. Dulaty Taraz State University
Economic integration of Kazakhstan on the Great Silk
Road
The idea for the joint construction of economic zone of the Silk Road was
announced in September 2013 in Astana by Xi Jinping, the President of China.
Analysts later praised his proposal as a geopolitical project of Beijing, which
was developed in the form of a certain answer to the existing Central Asian
integration programs from Russia or the United States.
China's initiative is of interest to Kazakhstan in terms of the economic
component and the opportunity to develop transport and logistics cooperation.
In addition, the very existence of a long-term strategy of China in the region
will allow Central Asia to maintain and even increase the interest of world
powers. Another aspect, that is attractive to Kazakhstan, is the ability to
expand cultural and humanitarian cooperation.
The current global geopolitical turbulence, intersecting centrifugal and
centripetal processes in international relations and new approaches to security
force to look at Central Asian region in a new way. For the first time, Central
Asia emerged as a separate region in the work of geographer Alexander von
Humboldt in 1843. From the point of view of contemporary geopolitical analysis,
the region is referred to as Hinterland, i.e. an area remote from Rimland
(coastal area) and Heartland, which according to Halford Mackinder coincides
with the Russian South Siberia. With regard to the Great Silk Road, the name was
also been proposed by German scientist Ferdinand Richtgofen in 1877 [2].
Historically, the region was an important corridor between the Eastern
Mediterranean, India and China, Persia and the Caucasus. XIX century was
associated with confrontation between the Russian Empire and Britain for
influence in Central Asia. Anglo sphere, presented by the United States and
Great Britain, together with the junior partner in the face of the EU changed
its tactics but not strategy. In recent years, the method of "smart
power", which combines both rigid methods from military intervention to
economic sanctions and gentle approach, based on a flexible diplomacy and
humanitarian programs, has reached its goal of undermining the possibility of
developing their own path of development for the countries of Central Asia
particularly those that are restricted in natural resources and without
infrastructure.
China is also interested in the pacification of the region, in order to
secure transit routes for energy. Beijing successfully intercepted a narrative
of the New Silk Road, and uses this concept to ensure their interests. In 1985, together with Pakistan,
a project Karakoram Highway was put into action, and in 1995 an agreement was
signed between Pakistan, China, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. Beijing deliberately
holds diversification policy in the field of transport corridors. At the moment, there are three
ways to Europe from China: 1) Trans-Siberian Railway (13 000 km. From the
border with Russia to Rotterdam); 2) sea route from the port of Lianyungang to
Rotterdam (10 900 km.) and 3) the route Shanghai-Rotterdam (15 000 km.). New
direction, over which China is working, is Asia-Europe freeway and several
joint projects called "continental bridge program" that will link
China with Eurasia, Eastern Europe and the Mediterranean. In other words, there
is a confrontation between China's efforts to revive the historic Silk Road in
the new version and the US-led initiative, which is based on the idea of free
trade with relevant geopolitical imperatives.
At the 25th meeting of the Foreign Investors Council, held 22.05.2012 The
President of the Republic of Kazakhstan N.A. Nazarbaev announced the beginning
of large-scale project "New Silk Road": "Kazakhstan must revive
its historical role and become the largest business and transit hub of the
Central - Asian region, a bridge between Europe and Asia ... The first - it's
advantageous geographical position; the second - a constant traffic growth;
third - direct access to the markets of the Customs Union and the fourth - a
favorable investment climate ... competitive advantage of the "New Silk
Road", which will be based on the implementation of the "principle of
5C - speed, service, value, safety and stability. As a result of their
territorial and functional linkages there must be a synergistic effect ".
Chinese President Xi Jinping who visited Kazakhstan on a state visit on
September 6-8 this year, talking about the importance of the project "New
Silk Road" , said that in the area of "Silk Road" is home to
three (3) billion people, the local regional market is unprecedented in its
scale and potential. He urged the concerned parties to remove barriers to
facilitate trade and investment. He also noted that China and Kazakhstan need
to create an "economic corridor Silk Road". [3]
To date, the main challenges of transport and logistics system of
Kazakhstan are the trans nationalization of the world market, increasing export
and transit potential of Kazakhstan and establishing the growth of
competitiveness of alternative routes. Through improved production and economic
activity in Kazakhstan, the country is to strengthen the intermodal system,
complicating the supply chain, economic diversification and non-discriminatory
access of Kazakh products to global markets
. Kazakhstan is in the geostrategic position in Eurasia, having access to
both nearby and distant markets. This dictates the call for the development of
transport and logistics system. An important step towards this goal was the
decision of Kazakhstan to revive the route of the Great Silk Road. To do this, all the conditions are ripe and
there are prerequisites, as the rapid development of transit traffic between
Asia and Europe, where the share of China accounted for 50% of turnover, the
development of an integrated transport strategy ("Great Leap
Forward") and the rapid development of China's western provinces «Go West»
namely Xinjiang, the accelerated development of China's western provinces. It
is known that in 2010 the volume of trade between the EU and China amounted to
more than $526 billion. Kazakhstan's share in this is relatively small. Taking
into consideration that Kazakhstan supports the focal point of the Eurasian
connection with the Middle East, it is necessary to create conditions for the
development of the "New Silk Road"
The main step to restoring the route of the Silk Road is the development of
Kazakhstan's transit. In connection with this today when choosing a strategic
route, one of the topical route area of the Customs Union is the creation of
transport and logistics base for the development of economic relations within
the Common Economic Space (hereinafter - CES). Here, the most promising is the
creation of a unified transport and logistics company (hereinafter UTLC). An
important element in the implementation of UTLC is a creation of a common
market for transport services, integrated transport system and implementation
of transit potential of the countries - members of the Eurasian Economic
Community.
Potential route of "New Silk Road"
It is necessary to provide a guaranteed supply of quality through transport
and logistics services on the principle of "one window" in respect of
containerized cargo on the whole of the EEA, operation and development of key
transit corridors passing through the Customs Union countries, to modernize and
to ensure the development of key transport assets EEA.
The main cargo on the "New Silk Road" will be from East to West.
Western and central provinces of China are on direct rail links with the EU on
the rail route through the station Dostyk. Now the delivery of goods to Europe
by railway is on average 2-3 times faster than by sea, which is a significant
competitive advantage for the transport of goods critical to the speed of
delivery to the counter or assembly plant. In addition, the transport
infrastructure of East China (railway communication with seaports, river
traffic on the Yangtze) is heavily congested, leading to an increase in time
for the transportation of goods from the western and central provinces by sea
[4].
As a result of the project "New Silk Road", it should engage
players of all forms of ownership. The Government of Kazakhstan approved a
comprehensive action plan to implement the project "Kazakhstan - New Silk
Road". ITC is determined by general coordinator for the implementation of
tasks for the development of transport and logistics system, JSC "NC"
KTZ” is defined by a logistics operator. JSC "NC" KTZ " is the
basis for the formation of a multi-modal logistics operator of transnational
scale with full-assets and competencies that can integrate the whole chain of
delivery. Also, the National Company is a mediator between business organizations and
government agencies to address emerging issues and problems.
For the purpose of an integrated approach to solving the problem of the
decision of the Head of State on the establishment of Kazakhstan in 2016 as a
trade and logistics business hub of the region, as well as to meet the balance
of interests of all transport subjects, the Union of Transport of Kazakhstan «KAZLOGISTICS»
(hereinafter - the Union) was created. Union was created to bring together
public transport associations, transport logistics centers, enterprises of
road, air, sea and rail transport in Kazakhstan. One of the objectives of the
Union is the interaction with government agencies and especially with the
Ministry of Transport and Communications.
In May 2013, the Union of Transport of Kazakhstan «KAZLOGISTICS» signed a
joint action plan between the Union and the Ministry of Transport and Communications
of the Republic of Kazakhstan, which was based on the Book of Problems of all
modes of transport, formed by a union
in December 2012. This is a mechanism
of system processing of the
problems, collecting information, which requires the state to respond, ongoing
monitoring problems and factor analysis
with the removal of the workers in the bodies of the Union to determine the
causal and necessary recommendations on personnel, regulatory and
organizational solutions. These materials are classified to carry out a
comprehensive analysis of the need for a regulatory framework appropriate
changes and the development of new regulations. Only such a meticulous approach
will form the basis of trust in the actions of businesses in the transport and
logistics sector, will give confidence to consumers and carriers in the
reliability of their services in the market.
Regarding the problems of maritime transport the need is noted for a Port
Authority, the need to improve sectoral legislation and bring it into line with
international requirements, a comprehensive study of transport of goods from
the river port of Atyrau to the Azov Sea and the Central regions of Russia and
back, taking into account the time and cost of transportation, specialization
of courts and terms of navigation, the absence of state regulation in the
seaports of the Republic of Kazakhstan, as the absence of long-range
identification and Tracking of ships (LRT). However, training of the personnel
in HEIs of Kazakhstan needs some work, compliance with international level and
create Aktau training center for professional personnel for maritime transport.
Constraint is the lack of the country's "white list", according to
the IMO Convention, entitling to train specialists for maritime transport in
Kazakhstan [5].
At the same time there are problems in
training personnel for civil aviation, finance implementation of
international aviation standards «E Freight», ensuring the supply of fuel at
all airports in Kazakhstan without intermediaries and support the
competitiveness of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the maintenance of
international air cargo. Of particular concern of local companies is the
adoption by the Board of the Eurasian Economic Commission documents that limit
the competitiveness of the country, related to the import and transit of goods
and coming from the territory of the Customs Union to the Republic of
Kazakhstan.
Relevant are becoming Kazakhstan brand motor carriers, the seriousness of
the problems of road transport infrastructure and the urgency of solving these
problems, in particular, the question of protection of the market of
international road transport. Efficient transport control for vehicles
traveling in Kazakhstan is not provided. Consequently, the Kazakhstan market of
transport services is captured by foreign operators; this violates the
principle of fair competition, causing significant social and economic damage
to the country. In order to protect the national road transport market,
Transport Control Committee MOTC of RK should take measures to strengthen
control over all foreign travel of vehicles through the territory of the
Republic of Kazakhstan.
The competitiveness of domestic
international carriers is of particular concern. The rolling stock is in poor
condition, as it has hardly ever been updated since 2009. This is due to the
fact that zero customs duties on the purchase of commercial vehicles from third
countries were canceled by the Eurasian Economic Commission. At the same time,
other countries of the Customs Union (Russia, Belarus) did not stop updating
vehicles. Today, the number of cars in Russia - 30 000 vehicles; Belarus -
11,700 vehicles; Kazakhstan - 10,000 vehicles. Based on the above data, it is
clear that in Belarus the number of vehicles is more than in Kazakhstan.
Although, until 2009, the situation was the opposite. This is also due to the
fact that in 2009 zero tariff rates for the purchase of vehicles from third
countries were restored by the Decree of the President of Belarus. For the
purpose of updating and maintaining the rolling stock of domestic vehicles on
international traffic, it is required to take similar measures on the state
support [7].
Among the problems of rail transport in Kazakhstan, there is a lack of the authorized body for the inspection of
the technical condition of containers, inaccurate cost calculation methods and
composition of services, timing of works on overload and failure to ensure the
safety of transported goods, delays in the supply wagons. A result of
successful reform of the railway sector is the attraction of transit cargoes
through pilot runs of container trains in areas of "East-West", which
resulted in launching this year a regular container train
"Chengdu-Lodz", "Wuhan - Pardubice", and in particular
cargo container train "Chongqing-Duisburg" design which now takes 1.5
hours. The system of electronic interaction between CCC and JSC "NC"
KTZ" in the tool frames "Dostyk - Green Corridor" and "
E-Train "(procedure of prior information about the goods) is introduced
through the station Dostyk. It is important to note the advantages of the
"Electronic Train", such as the fast speed of movement, performing
cargo transportation within the required time. All this are indicators of the
high level of stability and service, which in itself is of great interest and
trust relationship shippers.
The tools to address the problems include: the establishment of working
groups in the frameworks of a round table by region, meetings, the imposition
and discussion of problems, the subsequent systematization of the protocols,
the opening of the Corporate Fund «KAZLOGISTICS», maintenance of transport and
logistics magazine "Trans Logistics» and information analytic portal
«www.kazlogistics.kz», which houses the Civic Center "People's Control
tRANSPORT" for the transparent conduct of public hearings, investigate
disputes for all transport modes, direct access customers and all participants
in the transport and logistics process for applying to the Union , on
violations or omissions by the competent state authorities; covert market
research on the principle of «MISTERY SHOPPING», development and periodic
updating Books problems for each mode of transport, which reflects all the
current issues in transport development, influencing the occurrence of this
problem factors, solutions and decision-makers.
Another platform for promoting the idea of the "New Silk Road" is
the info-communication platform G-Global, which has a strategic importance for
the unification initiatives of the Head of State in a single
"Mega-project". As part of this global project, the revival of
the "New Silk Road" is a very practical tool for the integration of
the various countries of Europe and Asia, where Kazakhstan is interested not
only in the development of transport and logistics infrastructure, but the most
important thing in creating opportunities for European and Asian countries in
efficient trade and exchange through the "New Silk Road". [6]
The idea of the "New Silk Road" is in constant search and
dialogue. There are prospects of speed container line “East - West and
International road transport." The Forum provides an open platform for
interaction with international players. This is an opportunity to present
transport and logistics potential of the country, with the reflection of the
problems and solutions that will trust in the route, technology and management.
The general concept of the revival of the status of the Silk Road in
Kazakhstan is based on the establishment of a global confidence in the project
"New Silk Road". The objectives can be achieved only by combining the
efforts of all participants, working as a unit. The concentration of forces
will provide the basis for increasing transit traffic and recognition by the
international community of Kazakhstan as a major logistics hub in Central Asia.
In the unity there is power!
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