Despite being landlocked, Central Asia has turned into a key transit hub in Eurasia due to its strategic location at the heart of the vast continent and the implementation of major transport infrastructure projects.
According to the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB), from 2020 to 2024 transit freight volumes through the Central Asian region increased by 70%.
Eighty percent of transit flows pass through Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.
Rail transport carries approximately 60% of all transit freight.
More than 70% of all transit flows between China on one side and Russia, Turkey, Afghanistan, and European countries on the other.
According to the EDB Eurasian Transport Network Observatory, over $52 billion would be invested in the development of transport corridors in Central Asia by 2035.
“Over the past five years, we have witnessed a doubling of Central Asian countries’ trade with China. At the same time, transit flows have increased by 70%. But this is only the beginning. Central Asia, which is further removed from global markets than other landlocked regions, requires high-quality infrastructure. According to our estimates, this will require nearly $53 billion by 2035. A significant portion of these funds will be allocated to transport projects developing the North-South transport corridor, as well as the Trans-Afghan Corridor, which opens new horizons for trade with the Gulf states and South Asia,” commented Evgeny Vinokurov, Deputy Chairman of the Management Board and Chief Economist at the EDB.
