DUBAI

DP World and the government of Kazakhstan have signed two Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) for the development of a Port Community System (PCS), ahead of the Astana Economic Forum on Thursday, the company said in a statement.

The MoU’s also cover the integration of customs processes. PCS is an electronic platform developed by DP World subsidiary Dubai Trade, that enables the exchange of information between organisations involved in maritime, inland and airport processes.

According to the statement, the aim of the MoU’s is to improve ease of doing business in Kazakhstan’s ports and freezones through paperless transactions that remove long queues in administrative offices, delays and duplication.

Kazakhstan’s potential as a key transit corridor for China’s One Belt, One Road initiative can be realised by focusing on soft and hard infrastructure development that supports multimodal transport links, according to DP World Group Chairman and CEO, Sultan Ahmad Bin Sulayem.

Bin Sulayem said in a statement: “Our experience in Dubai and in the 40 countries where we operate globally has taught us that integrating services makes trade faster, safer and more efficient for our stakeholders attracting investment and helping business. That’s why these announcements today are important for Kazakhstan, providing smart trade solutions for the country and to increase efficiencies for business.

“We have experience of delivering this at our flagship operation in Jebel Ali, where the Dubai Logistics Corridor connects road, rail, air and sea transport providing seamless cargo movement through the Dubai Trade Portal with more than 50,000 transactions conducted each day,” he added.

Bin Sulayem was speaking at the Astana Economic Forum, an annual event that provides a platform for discussion on the world’s economic opportunities and challenges, and hosts government and business figures from more than 80 countries. During his panel discussion that focused on the New Silk Road, he said that multimodal connectivity is key to realising the Kazakhstan President’s ‘path to the future’ vision, which includes the ‘Nurly Zhol’ — a $9 billion infrastructure spending programme — to help prepare a future-ready economy.