Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) – It is important to develop transport infrastructure and diversify transi corridor in Central Asian region. Director of the Center for Strategic Studies at the Institute of International Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan Shiri Shiriyev said at an online conference "The state and prospects for the development of the transport and logistics infrastructure of the Central Asian countries as an important factor in ensuring connectivity in the region", organized by ISMI together with the representative office of the Friedrich Ebert Foundation in Uzbekistan.

The event was attended by representatives of the institutes of strategic studies of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, employees of relevant ministries and departments of Uzbekistan, as well as European experts. During the conference, a thorough exchange of views took place on a wide range of issues of intra- and inter-regional interconnectedness as an important condition for sustainable economic development of the Central Asian region.

Speaking at the forum, Shiri Shiriev drew attention to the need to develop transport infrastructure and diversify transit corridors in the region.

As the expert noted, Ashgabat is making significant efforts to develop an extensive network of transport corridors, and is also interested in the full use of the potential of the seaport of Turkmenbashi. As important projects, Shiri Shiriyev singled out the construction of the Farab-Turkmenabat and Kerki-Amudarya bridges across the Amu Darya River, which made it possible to increase the volume of transit and bilateral cargo flows between Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan.

Shiri Shiriev believes that the formation of an effective transport-transit and logistics interconnection contributes to the sustainable economic development of Central Asia.

At the same time, the creation of a single transport network with high quality standards is one of the important factors of joint cooperation in this direction.

Also, the director of the Center for Strategic Studies at the Institute of International Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan stressed that providing access to the international maritime trade routes will be of decisive importance for increasing the competitiveness of the economies of the Central Asian countries. Stronger trade and transport connectivity will reduce trade and transport costs, expand intra-regional trade, and enhance Central Asia's foreign economic potential.

In turn, Geldimurad Amanov, specialist in international relations of the Turkmen Logistika Association, noted that the introduction of digitalization processes in the transport and logistics sector will allow the countries of the region to significantly strengthen interconnectedness, as well as contribute to the growth of mutual and regional trade.

Speaking about examples of successful cooperation with Uzbekistan, the expert emphasized the implementation of a major transport and logistics project to organize the transportation of heavy oversized equipment for the construction of a complex for the production of nitric acid at Navoiazot JSC.

In conclusion, the Turkmen side thanked the Uzbek colleagues for the high level of organization of the conference and expressed hope for continued cooperation between think tanks.