TASHKENT: Uzbekistan is spearheading significant transport initiatives aimed at bolstering integration and connectivity across Central Asia, according to the country’s Minister of Transport, Ilkhom Makhkamov. In an exclusive interview with Trend, the minister outlined ambitious railway projects that promise to link Central Asian countries with Europe and Asia, potentially transforming the region into a crucial logistics hub.

According to Trend News Agency, Makhkamov highlighted the construction of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan and Pakistan-Afghanistan-Uzbekistan railway lines as key examples of projects that could significantly enhance the regional transport system. These railways are expected to connect various regions through a unified network, providing an alternative route for linking China with Europe via several Asian and European countries. The minister emphasized that such developments will not only facilitate trade with China and Asia-Pacific countries but also create a powerful South Asia corrido
r connecting India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Uzbekistan.

Makhkamov stressed the importance of these projects for increasing the transit potential of Central Asia and the Caucasus. He noted that Uzbekistan could emerge as a pivotal crossroads between north-south and west-east directions, turning the broader Central Asian region into a major logistics hub. The minister also underscored the benefits of the Transafghan corridor, which is poised to boost the transit status of Central Asian countries and strengthen their mutual ties.

Highlighting the strategic importance of access to Pakistani ports via Afghanistan, Makhkamov pointed out that this route offers Uzbekistan the shortest path to the sea. Such access will enable Uzbekistan to expand trade with South Asia, Africa, and the Americas. He further noted Pakistan’s interest in this direction, as it opens pathways to the Central Asian market, enhancing political and social relations.

Central Asian countries, rich in natural resources, stand to gain signifi
cantly from these developments. The Transafghan railway, in particular, is expected to facilitate deeper integration with the global economy by connecting Central and Southeast Asian railway infrastructures. Makhkamov emphasized that with strategic planning in the transport sector, Central Asia could see substantial growth in cargo and passenger turnover, thereby increasing the region’s attractiveness and competitiveness on the global stage.