EDB Values Eurasian Transport Projects at US$345 Billion

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — The Eurasian Development Bank has updated its Observatory of Eurasian Transport Framework Projects, a digital platform featuring a database and interactive map of transport corridors across 13 countries, including Uzbekistan. As of 1 July 2026, the database contains 402 ongoing and planned projects with total investments of US$345 billion, the bank reported. An additional US$100 billion is accounted for by projects that are yet to be launched.

In 2025, facilities worth over US$10 billion were commissioned in the region's countries, while 70 new projects valued at US$74 billion were added to the portfolio. The largest share of investment, nearly US$150 billion, or 42.8%, was directed toward the railway sector. By country, Russia leads with US$225.2 billion (65.3%), where eight of the ten largest projects are being implemented, including the modernization of the Eastern Railway Polygon.

Central Asia accounts for more than 21% of all investments, comprising 114 projects worth over US$71.75 billion, of which more than 45% are being implemented in Kazakhstan. Nearly 56% of regional investments are directed toward road development, while another 29.8% is allocated to railway sections. The largest direction is the TRACECA corridor, including the Trans-Caspian route, which accounts for US$42.8 billion.

In 2025 alone, facilities worth US$6 billion were commissioned in Central Asia. Among the key results of the year, the bank noted the completion of the electrification of the Bukhara-Urgench-Khiva railway in Uzbekistan with the launch of high-speed passenger service, the modernization of the Dostyk-Moyynty line in Kazakhstan with a fivefold increase in capacity, the Ashgabat-Mary-Turkmenabat highway and a section of the North-South corridor in Turkmenistan, a tunnel at the Kok-Art pass in Kyrgyzstan, and sections of the Obigarm-Nurobod road in Tajikistan.

Evgeny Vinokurov, deputy chairman of the management board and chief economist of the EDB, noted the transition "from implementing isolated transport projects in Eurasia at the beginning of the century to forming the Eurasian Transport Framework — a comprehensive network of interconnected and mutually complementary transport corridors along East-West and North-South routes." According to him, the large-scale infrastructure process in Central Asia "will allow landlocked countries to improve conditions for the development of trade, tourism, and mobility."

Private capital participates in 123 of the 402 projects, with nearly half of them in warehousing and logistics infrastructure; 27 projects are being implemented or could be implemented on PPP principles, and eight are cross-border. International development banks participate in 48 projects, financing 43 of the 114 projects in Central Asia.

China is increasing its participation in Central Asia's transport infrastructure, with projects worth over US$12 billion being implemented with its involvement, while funds raised from Chinese sources exceed US$7 billion. The China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway corridor was named the largest project involving China.