BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 27. The number of express container trains traversing Central Asia has skyrocketed in the last years, said the Principal Regional Cooperation Specialist of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) Zulfia Karimova.
According to her, the number of express container trains passing through the Central Asian Region has increased from 17 in 2011 to over 15,000 in 2021. This impressive growth can be attributed to simplified processes, including single window and single stops, reduced border inspections, improved platform companies, and competitive pricing
"Most recently, rail transport benefited from the COVID-19 pandemic, as border closures and movement restrictions forced truck drivers to stay home. For example, Turkmenistan closed its border to foreign trucks, while Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan required foreign truck drivers to present negative COVID-19 test results and vaccination certificates," she said.
She noted that the upward trend of rail transport will most likely continue over the coming decades as demand grows, fuel costs rise, and reducing the carbon footprint becomes a more important consideration for suppliers and end-consumers.
In addition, Karimova mentioned that the recently announced China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway, which will facilitate trade between China, Central Asia, Europe, Türkiye, and the Middle East, will be an important step for regional stability and cooperation on a global level.