Kazakhstan road improvement – funding found

An important highway stretch in Kazakhstan will now be upgraded thanks to funding from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD). The US$490 million finance package comes in the shape of a loan and will be used to improve the highway connecting capital Almaty with Khorgos, which lies on the border with China. The 297km highway section will cost $576.5 million to upgrade in all. The source of the remaining funding necessary has not so far been revealed. The highway is a key link for Kazakhstan but also as an international transport route. This stretch will form part of the Belt & Road connections joining China with Europe by road, with another highway section running westwards through Kazakhstan to join with the Russian border.