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EFSD to Build Nine Schools in Kyrgyzstan

On July 23, Dogdurkul Kendirbaeva, Minister of Education and Science of Kyrgyzstan, and Andrey Shirokov, Executive Director of the Project Unit at the Eurasian Fund for Stabilization and Development (EFSD), signed an agreement to construct and fully equip nine secondary schools in Kyrgyzstan on a grant basis. The EFSD is a financial institution established in 2009 by Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Tajikistan to promote economic and financial stability in its member states. The document was signed following a meeting between Andrey Shirokov and Akylbek Japarov, Chairman of the Kyrgyz Republic's Cabinet of Ministers, during which the latter reiterated the parties' commitment to cooperate on the implementation of projects prioritized by his country. In addition to the schools, a $60 million project will be launched to provide drinking water to 32 villages in the southern Osh region. Other proposed initiatives include improving the country’s irrigation system and purchasing ambulances. EFSD is also invested in cooperating on improvements to Kyrgyzstan's roads and as stated by Japarov, “the planned Aral–Suusamyr highway project is expected to reconstruct approximately 80 km of the road connecting the Bishkek–Osh and North-South transport corridors, vital to the Kyrgyz Republic. The successful implementation of this project will promote the socio-economic development of the Naryn and Talas regions and the remote areas of the Chui region, reduce travel times, and significantly improve road safety in the country."

Pakistan Finance Investments Turkmenistan Transport Afghanistan Export/import Economy Iran

Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Afghanistan Plan New Railway Line

On July 20, government representatives from Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and Afghanistan gathered in Aktau, Kazakhstan, to discuss the construction of a new railway line running from the Turkmenistan border through Afghanistan to Pakistan via Turgundi—Herat—Kandahar—Spin Buldak, The joint implementation of the project was proposed by head of the Agency for Transport and Communications of Turkmenistan, Mammetkhan Chakyev, who also announced that Turkmenistan and the Afghan side had already agreed to create a logistics centre in Turgundi, a border town in northern Herat Province of Afghanistan. Construction is due to commence shortly and once in operation, will provide facilities for the transhipment of grain, rail containers, and other cargo. Kazakhstan's invitation to participate in the project rests on its production of high-quality railway tracks and as stated by Chakyev, “Turgundi-Herat is not only the construction of a railway but also the further development of freight traffic and the attraction of goods in this direction. With the participation of the Kazakh side, we can significantly increase the attractiveness of this corridor." Afghan representatives stating their readiness to forward the transport of goods from Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan to Pakistan, highlighted the effectiveness of the route for all concerned as well as the benefits it afforded to importing Chinese goods through Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan. Kazakhstan’s Deputy Prime Minister Serik Zhumangarin announced his support for Turkmenistan's proposal for the joint construction of the new railway route and its provision of a western corridor from Afghanistan to Pakistan and India.

Finance Investments Russia Transport Security Economy Strategy North-South transport corridor

Kazakhstan, Iran, Turkmenistan and Russia to Develop North-South Transport Corridor

On July 19 - 20, the Ministry of Transport of Kazakhstan organized its first meeting on the North-South transit and trade corridor in Aktau attended by delegations from Azerbaijan, Armenia, Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Russia, Belarus, Turkmenistan, UAE, Iran, Iraq, Oman, and Uzbekistan. By connecting Russia and Belarus to ports in the Persian Gulf, with further access to India, the North-South transport corridor will broaden prospects for trade and become a key engine for Kazakhstan's economic development. During the meeting, Kazakhstan, Iran, Turkmenistan, and Russia signed a roadmap for the development of the eastern route of the North-South transport corridor from 2024 to 2025, aimed to increase the corridor's throughput to 15 million tons of cargo annually by 2027 and 20 million tons by 2030. Kazakh Minister of Transport Marat Karabaev commented: “Kazakhstan intends to continue its active participation in the development of the Eastern branch of the North-South corridor, which has the highest potential for growth in cargo flows until 2030 and appears to be the safest and shortest transit route to the Indian Ocean. Therefore, it is necessary to begin the practical implementation of the Roadmap signed today for the synchronous development of the eastern route of the North-South corridor passing through the territories of Kazakhstan, Russia, Turkmenistan, and Iran.”

Transport

First Chinese Freight Train Leaves For Iran via Turkmenistan

The Iranian ambassador to China, Mohsen Bakhtiar, has announced the launch of a new freight route linking China and Iran. According to Bakhtiar, a Chinese transit train has left Xi'an for Tehran. It will arrive in the Iranian capital about ten days after departing China. The train will enter Iran through the Inche-Burun checkpoint, after passing through Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan. Bakhtiar commented that the launch of this route is part of the Iranian embassy's efforts to strengthen the country's transit potential by ensuring the transportation of Chinese goods to West Asia and Europe.

Finance Airports Air transport Economy Export/import Transport Investments

Boom in Uzbekistan’s International Flights

In the first half of 2024, Uzbekistan's airports processed 53,300 flights of which 16, 300 were domestic and 36,900 international; an increase of 37% compared to the same period last year, according to a report by Uzbekistan Airports' press service. From January to June, Uzbek airports served 6 million 369,384 thousand passengers on domestic flights, 1 million 263,304 thousand passengers on domestic flights, and 5 million 106,80 thousand passengers on international flights; an increase of 36% compared to the first quarter of 2023. In the first half of the year, 40.7 tons of cargo and mail were transported, 18% more than last year. Today, Uzbek airports provide passenger services on 84 routes. The 15% increase is attributed to the addition of new air carriers and the simultaneous launch of several new routes. Uzbekistan Airports currently cooperates with 45 airlines.

Transport

Electrification of Kyrgyzstan-Kazakhstan Railroad Will Cost $300 Million

The estimated cost for the electrification of the 321.5-kilometer section of the Lugovaya-Balykchy railroad is $300 million. Tazabek.kg reports this based on a report made by the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC). The railroad links Kyrgyzstan with Kazakhstan; the section is single-track, and covers 60.3km in Kazakhstan and 261.2km in Kyrgyzstan. According to analysts, electrifying this section will increase the speed of traffic and increase the capacity of the line. Furthermore, it will allow for the railroad to access other electrified sections in Kazakhstan and Russia. The EEC report notes that a feasibility study is needed to implement the project.