According to the World Bank, high transportation costs and unstable transit result in Central Asia losing up to 2% of its GDP annually, with logistics costs accounting for up to 60% of the value of goods—several times higher than the global average. This was stated by President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev on August 5 during his speech at the Third UN Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries in Aцaza, Turkmenistan.
In this context, the development of new reliable transit corridors and logistics infrastructure is becoming a critical condition for sustainable progress in Central Asia.
“The agenda that unites us today addresses a fundamental issue—the issue of fairness. It is about providing landlocked countries with the opportunity to participate in the global economy on equal terms,” Mirziyoyev noted.
Addressing this pressing challenge requires meeting three key conditions: modernizing infrastructure as the foundation for sustainable development, enhancing connectivity to prevent transit issues, and realizing the right to development as a core element of global equality.
Speaking about changes in the region, the President of Uzbekistan emphasized that a unified transport and logistics space is being formed in Central Asia. Over recent years, trade volumes have grown 4.5 times, investments have doubled, and the number of joint ventures has increased fivefold.
This year, construction of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway began in collaboration with partners, and cargo traffic along the Uzbekistan-Turkmenistan-Iran-Turkey transport corridor has significantly increased.
To address the common challenges faced by landlocked countries, President Mirziyoyev put forward several concrete proposals and initiatives.
He first highlighted the need for coordinated actions to proactively develop international transport corridors and infrastructure. In this context, he stressed the importance of accelerating the Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan railway project and its integration with the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway under construction.
Mirziyoyev also called for fully utilizing the potential of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (Middle Corridor), primarily through coordinated transit policies, harmonization of regulations, and the introduction of optimal tariffs for container transportation.
The President of Uzbekistan proposed the development of a UN-backed Global Agreement on Transit Guarantees for Landlocked Countries. This document aims to ensure fair access to ports and communications, reduce risks in cargo transportation, and address inequalities in global logistics.
Given the growing demand for flexible investment tools to finance major infrastructure projects, President Mirziyoyev advocated for the establishment of a UN-supported Fund for Logistics Integration of Landlocked Countries. The investment needs for transport infrastructure in Central Asia are estimated at nearly $40 billion annually.
The Uzbek leader also proposed creating a Global Vulnerability Index for Landlocked Countries to objectively assess limitations in transit capabilities, expand international financial and technical programs, and allocate resources efficiently based on real conditions.
President Mirziyoyev further announced Uzbekistan’s intention to join the activities of the International Think Tank for Landlocked Developing Countries.
In conclusion, Mirziyoyev reaffirmed Uzbekistan’s readiness for constructive and long-term partnerships to build a fairer architecture for global development.///nCa, 6 August 2025