The article by Nargiza Umarova discusses Uzbekistan’s strategic role in enhancing transportation connectivity among Turkic states, focusing on its efforts to establish itself as a vital transit hub in Eurasia. The author highlights Uzbekistan’s proactive transport policy aimed at reducing high logistics costs, which currently constitute 60% of trade product costs due to the country’s lack of maritime access. To overcome these challenges, Uzbekistan leverages its geographical location and collaborates with neighbouring Turkic countries within the Organisation of Turkic States (OTS).

 

One of the key initiatives explored is the CASCA+ multimodal corridor connecting Central Asia, the South Caucasus, and Anatolia. This route provides an alternative to the Northern Corridor, disrupted by geopolitical tensions, and integrates Uzbekistan into a broader “Europe-China-Europe” supply chain. The corridor’s development, including preferential tariffs and seamless transit agreements, has already facilitated increased freight volumes, with plans to expand capacity to 23 million tonnes annually.

 

The article also underscores Uzbekistan’s focus on diversifying trade routes to Europe and the Middle East through collaborations such as the “China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan” railway and the “Turkey-Iran-Turkmenistan-Uzbekistan” railway. These projects aim to optimise transit times and costs, offering competitive alternatives to existing routes like the Trans-Caspian corridor. The inclusion of the Zangazur corridor and expanded cooperation with Azerbaijan and Turkey further highlights Uzbekistan’s commitment to regional logistics integration.

 

Overall, Nargiza Umarova concludes that Uzbekistan’s transport connectivity efforts not only address domestic economic challenges but also bolster the strategic objectives of the OTS. The country’s initiatives contribute to the economic growth of Central Asia, enhance the region’s trade capacity, and underscore the importance of cohesive Turkic partnerships in global transport networks.

 

Read and download the article (in Turkish)

 

* The Institute for Advanced International Studies (IAIS) does not take institutional positions on any issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the IAIS.