EDB: Uzbekistan Becoming a Eurasian Transport Hub

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Uzbekistan is strengthening its position as one of the key transport and logistics hubs in Eurasia through the development of international railway corridors and infrastructure projects.

This was stated by Alexey Skatin, Deputy Chairman of the Management Board of the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB), at a panel session on the transformation of the railway sector and the development of new logistics routes in Central Asia, held as part of the Tashkent International Investment Forum.

According to Skatin, several strategically important transport routes pass through Uzbekistan, including the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway corridor currently under construction, the Trans-Afghan route, and the Tashkent-Samarkand high-speed railway.

Additional opportunities for integrating the country into international logistics chains are created by the development of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, which will be supported by the completion of the Darbaza-Maktaaral railway in Kazakhstan and the opening of a new border crossing.

The EDB representative noted that the combination of East-West and North-South routes is turning Uzbekistan into more than just a transit territory, making it a point of intersection for the largest transport flows in Eurasia.

The bank stresses that the efficiency of transport corridors depends directly on the development of related infrastructure, including the construction of warehouses, dry ports and container terminals. According to EDB estimates, demand for warehouse capacity in Uzbekistan could increase more than sevenfold, while the current level of provision remains relatively low.

To assess the investment potential of the transport sector, the EDB uses its Transport Projects Observatory, which covers 400 projects across Eurasia with a total value of US$340 billion.

Central Asia accounts for 114 of these projects, with combined investment of US$71.8 billion, of which around US$22 billion is directed towards the development of railway infrastructure. Five of the region's ten largest projects are being implemented in Uzbekistan, three of which involve railway corridors.

According to the bank's forecasts, freight volumes in Central Asia will increase by 50% by 2030 compared with 2024, reaching 95 million tonnes. Container traffic is expected to grow by 67%, to 1.7 million TEU.

Among the most significant projects for Uzbekistan, the EDB highlights the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway, which will provide direct container links with China and access to markets in Turkmenistan, the South Caucasus, Turkey and the Gulf states. According to the bank's estimates, the volume of container traffic through the country could increase from 100,000 to 500,000 TEU.

Also significant is the Trans-Afghan railway corridor, which will provide direct access to Pakistani ports and shorten the transport distance for Uzbek cargo by at least 1,000 kilometres.

The Tashkent-Samarkand high-speed railway was highlighted separately.

The EDB believes that implementing Central Asia's first dedicated high-speed railway project will free up existing infrastructure to increase the volume of freight and container traffic.