Temir Zholy, Kazakhstan’s national railway company, has agreed to invest in India’s infrastructure in return for rail access to the Indian Ocean, starting with the Gujarati port of Mundra. The agreement was struck during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modito’s visit to Astana this week where he pledged to take economic ties between the two countries “to a new level”. The Kazakh rail company will be looking for more port-led investment opportunities on India’s west coast to complement the arrangement with Mudra, as well as a similar deal it has already struck with the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas off the Strait of Hormuz.
The two sides also signed MoUs for future cooperation in defence, the supply of uranium, sports and the transfer of prisoners. Modi also promised that India would participate “on a large scale” in the Expo 2017 that is being held in Astana.
Temir Zholy secures Kazakhstan rail access to Indian Ocean
Source: indiatimes