Addressing the Third UN Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries in Turkmenistan on August 5, Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev spoke for the need of coordinated action to expedite the development of international transport corridors and infrastructure.
Mirziyoyev advocated accelerating the preparation and implementation of the Uzbekistan–Afghanistan–Pakistan railway construction project. “Converging this promising corridor with the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway line, which is now under construction, will open up opportunities to form a new trade and economic space, as well as sustainable transport infrastructure, in our vast region,” he said.
The Uzbek leader added that Uzbekistan also prioritizes the development of the Middle Corridor, saying that its full utilization requires a coordinated transit policy, common rules and reasonable tariffs for container transportation.
Mirziyoyev referred to the World Bank, according to which the Central Asian region loses up to 2% of its GDP annually due to high transport costs and transit instability. Logistics costs account for up to 60% of the total cost of goods, which is several times higher than the global average.
In this regard, he said, developing new reliable transit corridors and logistics infrastructure is essential for sustainable progress in Central Asia.
Mirziyoyev emphasized that in recent years Uzbekistan has undertaken systematic efforts to develop a modern transport and logistics network with active private-sector involvement.
“Today, a single transport and logistics space is being established in the region. Comprehensive programs and projects are being implemented to transform Central Asia into a fully-fledged transit hub between East and West, North and South.”
