The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a sovereign-guaranteed loan of $400 million equivalent to KazAvtoZhol National Company JSC for the construction of a new road in southern Kazakhstan. The project aims to enhance regional connectivity, enhance transport efficiency, facilitate cross-border trade flows, and improve road safety.
“The Saryagash Bypass Road will strengthen Kazakhstan’s trade and transport links within the region and with external markets in East Asia and Western Europe, helping unlock the country’s potential as a key transit hub,” said ADB Country Director for Kazakhstan Utsav Kumar. “The project will contribute to the economic development of the Turkistan region by providing easier access to larger markets, reducing congestion, creating employment opportunities, and promoting tourism.”
The project will design and construct a 102-kilometer highway that bypasses Saryagash city in the Turkistan region. Equipped with a smart traffic management system, the new road will provide sustainable connectivity by redirecting transit traffic from urban areas, thereby reducing congestion, shortening travel times, and improving overall mobility.
The highway will enhance connectivity between the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) Corridors 3 and 6 – strategic trade routes connecting Kazakhstan with neighboring countries. The CAREC Program, supported by ADB, is a partnership of countries and development partners working together to promote sustainable development and accelerate economic growth across the region.
The project will strengthen KazAvtoZhol’s institutional capacity in road safety, performance-based maintenance, climate resilience, and supporting women and girls. KazAvtoZhol serves as Kazakhstan’s national operator for the management of highways of international and national significance. It is responsible for the planning, construction, operation, and maintenance of highways.
