By 2030, international freight volumes in Central Asia could increase by approximately 50%, while container traffic is projected to grow by nearly 70%. This was announced by Margulan Abdirov, Senior Executive Director of the Transport, Industry, and Infrastructure Directorate at the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB), during his remarks at the ESE ASIA 2026 international forum in Almaty.
“Today, the competitiveness of international transport corridors is no longer determined solely by geographic routes, but rather by the level of infrastructure integration, digitalized processes, and the efficiency of logistics solutions. In this regard, supply chain resilience is becoming one of the pivotal factors driving economic growth,” Abdirov noted.
The EDB emphasized that one of the Bank’s key priorities is the development of the Eurasian Transport Network—a system of interconnected international transport corridors linking East-West and North-South routes, including the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route and other destinations.
According to the Bank’s estimates, the investment required to develop the transport network in Central Asia is valued at approximately US $ 250 billion.
Abdirov also outlined approaches to developing the Eurasian Commodity Distribution Network. This integrated system manages agricultural cargo flows across the EAEU territory along the entire logistics chain—from the agricultural producer straight to the retail network.
The development of this network requires upgrading border infrastructure, eliminating bottlenecks along international corridors, developing multimodal logistics centers, and implementing digital platforms alongside paperless shipping solutions.
The Bank noted that these projects are aimed at enhancing transport connectivity, fostering international transit, reducing logistics bottlenecks, and boosting intra-regional trade./// nCa, 21 May 2026