Nargiza Umarova, Senior Research Fellow at the Institute for Advanced International Studies, held an online seminar as part of educational activities of the independent analytical center STEM (Azerbaijan). The expert made a presentation on “Uzbekistan’s Role in Shaping a New Transport and Logistics Reality in Central Asia”, arousing keen interest among Azerbaijani specialists in the field of transport, logistics and international relations.

The seminar became a platform for in-depth analysis of prospects for the development of the southern transit direction through Afghanistan - the most important route connecting Central Asia with the vast South Asian market. Nargiza Umarova presented an expert assessment of current infrastructure projects, including the construction of the Trans-Afghan Railway, and emphasized that Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Kazakhstan are actively promoting their own initiatives in this direction - from railway lines to energy corridors.

Special attention was paid to the competition between regional and global players for influence on the Trans-Afghan route. Ms. Umarova emphasized the need for a coordinated regional strategy based on mutually beneficial approaches and considering the long-term interests of the Central Asian states.

The panel devoted to strengthening the transport partnership between Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan provoked a lively discussion. The sides discussed opportunities to expand land and multimodal communication, enhance the efficiency of logistics operations and utilize trans-Caspian routes to reach European markets.

At the end of her speech, Nargiza Umarova emphasized that geopolitical turbulence in the world opens not only challenges for Central Asian countries, but also unique chances to return the region to the status of a key link between East and West, North and South.