Global marine terminal operator DP World will provide management advisory services for the development of the Khorgos Special Economic Zone (SEZ) and Inland Container Depot (ICD) in Kazakhstan.

DP World and Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ), the country’s national railway company, signed an agreement in this regard. DP World will also provide similar services under a separate contract at the Port of Aktau, Kazakhstan’s main cargo and bulk terminal on the Caspian Sea.

The signing was held in Astana on the sidelines of the second international transport and logistics business forum “Kazakhstan – New Silk Way” with Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, chairman, DP World, and  Askar Mamin, president, KTZ, officiating. 

DP World handled 14.2 million teu across its global portfolio of container terminals in Q3 2013 with gross container volumes growing by 2.4 per cent on a like-for-like basis.

This was driven largely by an improved performance from its Asia Pacific and UAE terminals, the company said.

The UAE delivered a record quarter with 3.6 million teu handled during the period, representing growth of 5.4 per cent. Volumes for the nine months to September 2013 exceeded 10 million teu for the first time.

DP World, UAE Region, has won the Container Terminal Operator Award for a fifth consecutive year at the Seatrade Middle East & Indian Subcontinent Awards 2013 in Dubai. The judging panel chose the operator of Jebel Ali Port for its all – round operational excellence, a dynamic approach to creating a smart port, throughput performance, efficient automation systems and other value-adding services.

Bin Sulayem was the guest of honour for the evening, which was also attended by Jamal Majid Bin Thaniah, vice chairman, DP World.