Union of International Road Transport Carriers Republic of Kazakhstan (KazATO)

Makhsat A. Saktaganov KazATO President

The creation of Euro-Asian road transport corridors will make it possible to put to maximum use the transit potential of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Stimulating the Republic's economic development and relying on the vast experience of Kazakhstan's international road transport operators in delivering goods from neighbouring China to European countries, the Union of International Road Transport Carriers of Kazakhstan (KazATO) has initiated a Beijing-Berlin-Brussels Truck Caravan as part of the programme of the IRU 3rd Euro-Asian Road Transport Conference. The objective of this venture is to demonstrate in practice the opportunities offered by road transport in freight deliveries along East-West continental lines.

The Union of International Road Transport Carriers of the Republic of Kazakhstan (KazATO) was formed in February 1994 with the aim to deal with the task of supporting foreign economic relations and to provide the international transport operations by national carriers of the Republic of Kazakhstan. KazATO has been a member of the International Road Transport Union (IRU) since April 1995. In May 1995, Kazakhstan joined the TIR Customs Convention and also other four basic conventions and European agreements that regulate procedures in the implementation of international carriage.

Accession to the IRU opened the way for Kazakhstan's operators to the international market of transport services and made it possible for them to employ modern technologies widely used in other countries.

KazATO acts as the association guaranteeing the operations of the TIR system on the territory of Kazakhstan. The other important aspects of KazATO's activities is the control provided for operations by national carriers in international haulage. An important work is carried out in the field of training road transport staff and upgrading the skills of the employees?. KazATO runs a training centre accredited by the IRU Academy. Every year, the centre offers training and skill upgrading to more than two thousand drivers under a special program for international drivers.