Kazakhstan has entered into an agreement with the Terminals Holding Group based in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to collaborate on the development of Astana Airport as a multimodal hub, according to a statement by the country’s prime minister’s press office.
The investor, Terminals Holding Group, will conduct a comprehensive assessment of the operations at the capital city’s airport and subsequently take over its operational management with the aim of enhancing passenger service quality and overall airport efficiency, as stated in the release.
The primary focus for the investor will be preparing the runway for reconstruction and subsequent modernization. Considering the preparatory work and the short construction season, the reconstruction of the ground infrastructure is scheduled to commence in the coming year.
Simultaneously, a long-term business development plan for the airport will be devised, taking into account the interests of both the state and the company. This plan will serve as the foundation for future investments, as mentioned in the announcement.
Currently, Terminals Holding Group operates in several Asian and African markets, including airport management and consulting services.
Kazakhstan has existing ties with UAE companies. In February 2023, Caspian Integrated Maritime Solutions was registered, a joint venture between “Kazmortransflot” (a subsidiary of the national company “KazMunayGas”) and AD Ports Group, aimed at sea freight transport.
Astana Airport is the second-largest international airport in Kazakhstan, following Almaty. This collaboration is expected to pave the way for enhanced airport services and infrastructure development in the country.
