ALMATY, Feb. 5, (Xinhua) -- The Mazhilis, or the lower house of Kazakhstan's parliament, has ratified the Agreement between the governments of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan on the regulation of operations at the Central Asia International Industrial Cooperation Center, according to the Kazakh government's press service on Wednesday.

The Center will help accelerate cargo transport, reduce logistics costs, streamline supply chains by reducing the number of intermediaries, lower final product costs, increase delivery speed, and foster cooperation along the North-South transit corridor, said Kazakh Trade and Integration Minister Arman Shakkaliyev.

The agreement implements the decision made following the 20th session of the intergovernmental commission on bilateral cooperation between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, Shakkaliyev added.

The center will be built in the border area near the international border crossing points of Gulistan on the Uzbek side and Atemeken on the Kazakh side. The center will include manufacturing sites, warehouses and transport infrastructure. The total area of the center will be 100 hectares, with 50 hectares allocated to Kazakhstan and 50 hectares to Uzbekistan.

The technical launch of the center is scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2026, with the official opening planned for the first half of 2027. The Ministry of Trade and Integration of Kazakhstan will oversee the project's implementation until its completion. ■