Advance International Seeks to Capitalise on Kazakhstan’s Development

Almaty, Kazakhstan, December 10, 2008 --(PR.com)-- The office remains responsible for co-ordinating all export and import transport enquiries handled by Advance International, both to and from Kazakhstan.

Advance International has long had a presence in the country, says the company’s President & CEO, Jawad Kamel, and the office move builds on the need to extend the company’s facilities in response to the bullish growth of its turnover in the country.

Mr Kamel says: “We are making this move to a new and more efficient facility as we have been very successful in attracting business and have outgrown our previous location. It is important to build our presence in one of the world’s most exciting regions for freight transport.

“There has never been a better time to take a look at Kazakhstan and what it can offer freight shippers seeking a way to connect China and the EU. Massive extensions to Kazakhstan’s transport network will be repaid as freight volume between China and Kazakhstan is forecast to double by next year to 25 million tonnes.

“I am very excited by the prospects Kazakhstan offers and the real alternative the country gives to freight forwarders and their clients who wish to connect two of the world’s greatest trading blocs. An incredible US$12 billion is being budgeted over the next five years in the country’s road and rail infrastructure which can only boost traffic with China and result in routes that do not involve Russian territory,” he says.

Kazakhstan has been a sleeping giant in terms of transport. Now the country is awakening and freight forwarders like Advance International can only profit from the new opportunities the country offers.

Mr Kamal adds: “The Great Silk Road has always stood for trade between east and west. Where once caravans moved slowly between China and the west, taking the finest goods in both directions, now Advance International can look forward to bringing the latest consumer goods, finished products and containers at the speed of the fastest rail wagon or road truck, along one of the world’s great trading routes.”

So how does this positive outlook translate to activity that can benefit both Advance International and its clients’ bottom-lines?

“We are seeing splendid examples of targeted investment - US builder GE has supplied 150 rail locomotives to Kazakhstan, for example. We are responding to these positive signals by real investment in the country. Just over two years ago, we re-organised our office arrangements in Kazakhstan by establishing a new dedicated office in Almaty to provide stronger customer service support for our Advantage Express Railfreight Service, between Poti in Georgia and Almaty,” Mr Kamal explained.

The Advantage Express Service offers shippers an efficient routing for any cargoes that they are moving to and from the Central Asian Republics. It has an advertised transit time of eight days between Poti and Almaty and has been extended from Almaty to the northwest Chinese city of Urumqi to provide a link from this inland region of China to the Black Sea port of Poti. On connections are available from Poti to all of Europe and the East Coast of America.

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