The combination of multiple modes for goods delivery has been a typical phenomenon in modern logistics practice. A combination of trucking and aviation has been used for express package delivery. Ships and trains work together to move bulk commodities from East Asia to East USA. The ability to cut down transport cost by utilizing different modes for different shipment trips or for different segments of a single trip is the advantage of a multi-modal logistics system. Ironically, the task to construct such a system could be more challenging in territories where transport cost is higher. This article presents our recent work to plan for a multi-modal transport system in Kazakhstan, which aims to promote trade and economic development in this land-locked post-soviet country. With a focus on freight, we examine the challenges for Kazakhstan to develop such a multi-modal system, the pathways to build it up incrementally, and the impact the investment could produce.