Uzbekistan expands international transport routes

The unique geographical position of Uzbekistan, bordering all countries of the Central Asian region, provides an opportunity to connect not only neighboring states, but also East Asia with South, the Middle East with the Caucasus and Europe through a sustainable transport network. Today, the countries of Central Asia and the Caucasus are developing dynamically, and consistent economic growth necessitates further development of the transport and communications complex of our countries.

Moreover, the rapid change in the geopolitical situation in the world requires comprehensive and coordinated work to improve the transport infrastructure and diversify foreign trade routes for cargo transportation, and develop new and sustainable transport corridors.

The increase in geopolitical tensions in the Red Sea and Eastern Europe in recent years necessitates the development of safe, sustainable and mutually beneficial transport corridors between Europe and China, as well as Europe and Central Asia. Against the backdrop of these geopolitical changes, the Trans-Caspian International Transport Corridor, or the Middle Corridor, is in the spotlight of the entire world community and is being formed as an alternative route connecting China, the Middle East and Central Asia with Europe.
Uzbekistan closely cooperates with the European Union to form new and develop existing international transport corridors. It is a member of the international multimodal transport corridor CASCA+ (Asia-Pacific countries - China - Kyrgyzstan Uzbekistan - Turkmenistan - Azerbaijan - Georgia - Turkey - Europe), within the framework of which the Trans-Caspian route is being developed.
It should be noted that on December 20, 2019, in Tashkent, with the participation of the Ministry of Transport of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Protocol of the five-party meeting of the heads of railway administrations (Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan) on the development of the international multimodal transport corridor "Asia-Pacific countries - China Kyrgyzstan - Uzbekistan - Turkmenistan - Azerbaijan - Georgia - Europe" was signed. On December 17, 2021, Turkey joined this Protocol, and the Protocol of the Six-Party Meeting between the parties was signed. This document provides for the development by the railway administrations of Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Turkey and Georgia of regulations on preferential tariff rates and uniform conditions for the transportation of goods through these territories and in the opposite direction, the appointment of a logistics company responsible for organizing transit container trains from each country, improving interaction at border junction points (implementation of a pre-notification system), as well as the development of logistics centers at transshipment points in the territories of states.
The middle corridor has several routes, and among the existing alternative directions, it is the route China - Kyrgyzstan - Uzbekistan Turkmenistan - Azerbaijan - Georgia Turkey - European countries that is geographically the shortest on the route China - Europe (4917 km). The President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev, speaking at the meeting of the leaders of Central Asian countries and the European Union, held in Kyrgyzstan in June 2023, especially emphasized the importance of combining the efforts of countries by developing transport and communication links between Central Asia and Europe, primarily through the formation of the Middle Corridor. As a result of the reforms, the volume of cargo transportation across the Caspian Sea between Uzbekistan and Europe by the end of 2024 amounted to 1.1 million tons, which is 55 percent more than in 2020 (492 thousand tons). In 2024, the volume of international cargo transportation of Uzbekistan with the EU, Turkey, the Caucasus countries, the USA, Brazil amounted to 2.8 million tons, which indicates the prospects for further development of cargo transportation along the Middle Corridor. In this regard, in order to significantly develop cargo transportation along the Trans-Caspian route during 2025 and ensure the interests of Uzbekistan, the issue of acquiring two vessels for transportation across the Caspian Sea is being considered. The European Union's investment strategy "Global Gate" is also being implemented jointly with Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, the countries of the South Caucasus and Turkey.
Despite the practical measures taken, there is still no proper stability in transportation along the Middle Corridor. This is caused by a number of pressing issues: long delivery times; high transportation costs; low efficiency of ports on the Caspian and Black Seas and a decrease in the Caspian Sea water level.
In addition, studies have shown that due to unfavorable weather conditions, vehicles intended for international cargo transportation accumulate in the terminal area of ​​the port of Alyat (Azerbaijan). The average waiting time is 25-30 days.
For comparison: according to data provided by ERAI (

Eurasian Railway Alliance) for the first half of 2024, the average travel time of container block trains on the China-Europe route along the Northern Corridor is seven days, the cost of transportation is $3,289. According to data provided by Transgroup systems LP, the delivery time of cargo from Tashkent along the Middle Corridor is 35-40 days, the cost of transportation is $5,500.
Due to the above factors, the Middle Corridor is still losing in competitiveness compared to alternative routes (Northern Corridor, Southern Corridor).
At the same time, it should be taken into account that the Middle Corridor, or Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, opens up new opportunities for trade cooperation between Asia and Europe.
In order to establish closer ties between the countries located along this corridor and the European Union, it is necessary to eliminate the above-mentioned problems and ensure further development of the corridor, so that the EU countries and a number of leading banks invest in ports located in the Caspian and Black Seas (Turkmenbashi, Kuryk, Aktau, Alyat, Poti, Batumi), as well as in the transport infrastructure of the states located along the corridor (Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Georgia), which directly affect transportation along the corridor.
In today's rapidly changing world, one cannot rely on only one factor. In order to increase the attractiveness of the republic's transport corridors and create alternatives, the Ministry of Transport of the Republic of Uzbekistan is implementing a number of practical measures to develop the international transport corridor China - Kyrgyzstan - Uzbekistan - Turkmenistan Iran - Turkey (5430 km). This route, connecting China with Turkey, is the most advantageous, as there is a railway infrastructure along it, and cargo can be delivered from China (Kashgar) to Turkey (the port of Istanbul) by rail, and from the port to the countries of Europe and the Black Sea by road, rail or sea.
In order to develop the corridor, on November 1, 2023, at a meeting of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), the transport ministers of Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Iran and Turkey signed a Protocol on the Development of the Uzbekistan-Turkmenistan-Iran-Turkey Transport Corridor. According to the document, each participating country will appoint operators responsible for container transportation by rail, and agreements will be reached on conducting test transportation along the corridor and providing tariff discounts on them. Work is currently underway to attract China, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan to the signed Protocol on the Development of the Corridor. It is also expected that the construction of the strategic railway line China - Kyrgyzstan - Uzbekistan will make cargo transportation along the land route China - Europe even more attractive. It is recognized as the project of the century, reviving the Great Silk Road. The construction will reduce the distance to Europe by 900 km, and the delivery time - by seven to eight days.
The creation of several transport corridors between Uzbekistan and the European Union will not only strengthen transport links, but will also serve to increase trade turnover between the countries and improve economic indicators, as well as improve the quality of life.

Saidkamol Sultonbekov,
Leading specialist of the Center for the Study of Problems of Transport and Logistics Development under the Ministry of Transport of the Republic of Uzbekistan