DUSHANBE, Tajikistan, April 26. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) highlights that a transport corridor spanning Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan will enhance the benefits of the existing Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) corridors, Trend reports.
Specifically in Tajikistan, this Shymkent–Tashkent–Khujand Economic Corridor (STKEC) and its associated road networks will foster the development of free economic zones in Sugd, Dangara, Panj, and Ishkoshim regions.
At the same time, it was noted that Tajikistan's transport corridors with China, India, Iran, and Southeast Asia are less developed, and southwest country’s rail and road infrastructure requires significant improvement.
The ADB notes that in southeast Tajikistan, toward Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India, the development of a corridor to the free economic zone of Panji Poyon will enhance trade turnover in Khatlon. This corridor aims to establish access to Indian seaports.
One of the strategic objectives of Tajikistan's National Development Strategy (NDS) is to transform the country into a transport hub. This involves improving transport infrastructure, developing corridors, logistics centers, and border terminals, and enhancing interregional and intra-regional connectivity through multimodal development.
This effort addresses critical issues such as the poor condition of the road network, limited railway connectivity, insufficient air services, and the absence of logistics centers throughout Tajikistan.
To note, the ADB approved $800,000 in technical assistance to aid the governments of Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan in exploring economic corridor development in the STKEC region in October 2018. The governments of these countries approved an assessment of the trade potential and a roadmap for STKEC development in 2021.