KazNU Representative Participates in Kazakhstan Transport Week and International Expert Meetings in Astana

From 14 to 16 October 2026, Astana hosted Kazakhstan Transport Week, bringing together representatives of the transport and logistics industry, international organizations, the expert community, and research and educational institutions. One of its key events was the 29th Kazakhstan International Transport & Logistics Exhibition — TransLogistica Kazakhstan 2026.

Nazdana Adilova, PhD, Research Associate Professor at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, who represents Kazakhstan within the international transport information platform Transport Corridors, participated in the international industry events.

Her participation took place as part of efforts to strengthen professional cooperation among academia, transport and logistics companies, and international analytical organizations.

Transport Corridors as an International Expert Platform

During Kazakhstan Transport Week, participants discussed opportunities to expand the activities of Transport Corridors, an international transport information platform, across Central Asia.

The regional initiative is being developed with the involvement of Roman Dedkov, Director of Transport Corridors (RDL Group), Nazdana Adilova, representing Kazakhstan, and international partners, including CASPIA Lab, an analytical center based in Azerbaijan.

Among the participants in this professional cooperation is TransConsulting LLP, a Kazakhstan-based company specializing in transport and logistics consulting, organizational support for freight transportation, and transport-related projects. The company works with the logistics operator TransExpeditions and participates in international initiatives aimed at strengthening transport connectivity between Central Asia and the Caucasus.

One of the prospective areas of development for Transport Corridors is the establishment of an international expert community bringing together researchers, representatives of transport companies, industry associations, analytical centers, and government institutions.

The initiative aims to advance expert analysis of Eurasian transport corridors, multimodal transportation, infrastructure investment, logistics digitalization, risk management, and human capital development.

Particular attention will be given to applied research addressing specific challenges faced by transport and logistics businesses.

Human Capital as a Key Factor in Transport Corridor Development

The III BreakBulk Kazakhstan Conference featured two thematic panel sessions dedicated to project logistics, industrial transportation, trans-Eurasian routes, and multimodal transport solutions.

Representatives of Transport Corridors participated in expert discussions on transport infrastructure development, international freight transportation, and cooperation among logistics market participants.

Nazdana Adilova delivered a presentation entitled “Human Capital for the New Logistics of Central Asia: Are We Ready?”

Her presentation addressed the training of professionals for the modern transport and logistics industry, the transformation of professional competencies driven by digitalization and artificial intelligence, and cooperation between universities and employers.

Special emphasis was placed on the need to move beyond quantitative workforce assessments toward a systematic analysis of professional skills, career expectations, and factors influencing the attraction of young specialists to the industry.

As a practical example, she presented findings from a pilot survey conducted among students enrolled in the Logistics educational program at Al-Farabi KazNU. The study highlighted the importance of career development, practice-oriented education, internships, and student involvement in solving real-world business challenges.

According to the researcher, transport corridor development should be supported not only by investment in infrastructure and digital technologies but also by the establishment of a sustainable system for developing human capital.

The professional discussion also addressed the role of universities and specialized industry publications in advancing applied research and preparing market reviews and analytical materials for transport and logistics companies.

Strengthening Cooperation Between Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan

Meetings with representatives of CASPIA Lab (Azerbaijan) formed an important part of the program, focusing on strengthening expert, scientific, and educational cooperation between Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan.

During the visit, Orkhan Yolchuyev, Director of CASPIA Lab, was presented with a letter of appreciation on behalf of the Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan in recognition of his contribution to the development of education and science in the country.

As part of the cultural and educational program, representatives of Azerbaijan also donated publications on the history and cultural heritage of Azerbaijan to the National Academic Library of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

These activities highlighted the importance of humanitarian, educational, and expert ties in strengthening bilateral cooperation.

New Silk Way International Forum

Representatives of the expert community also attended the 8th International Transport and Logistics Business Forum, New Silk Way, held as part of Kazakhstan Transport Week.

The forum provided a platform for discussing the development of international transport corridors, strengthening Kazakhstan's transit potential, expanding multimodal transportation, and improving the competitiveness of Eurasian logistics routes.

Professional meetings explored opportunities for further cooperation among transport market participants, researchers, and international expert organizations.

Prospects for Cooperation with the TALDAU Analytical School

The working program in Astana also included a visit to the TALDAU Analytical School (“Taldau Mektebi”).

During a meeting with representatives of the school, including Maxim Spotkay, participants discussed potential cooperation in applied analytics, expert training, the use of digital tools, and the development of research competencies.

Particular interest was expressed in opportunities for interdisciplinary cooperation combining data analysis methods, economic research, and practical challenges in the transport and logistics sector.

From International Dialogue to Joint Research

The participation of the Al-Farabi KazNU representative in Kazakhstan Transport Week provided additional opportunities to expand professional networks, promote the university's research expertise, and explore new forms of international cooperation.

One prospective initiative is the establishment of the Transport Corridors — Central Asia expert network, focused on preparing analytical reviews, conducting applied research, and strengthening cooperation between the academic community and the transport and logistics industry.

The initiative is expected to engage representatives of universities, research centers, transport operators, infrastructure companies, and professional associations from Central Asia and other regions.

Transport Corridors invites researchers, industry experts, and business representatives to collaborate on expert publications, analytical studies, and joint projects.

Official website: https://www.transportcorridors.com/ru/

CASPIA Lab: https://caspia-lab.az/