Alexei Skatin: Uzbekistan is becoming a crossroads of Eurasian transport corridors
Tashkent, 18 June 2026. — Alexei Skatin, Deputy Chairman of the Management Board of the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB), spoke at the panel session "Transforming the Railway Sector and Developing New Logistics Corridors in Central Asia: Investment Opportunities and Regional Connectivity" held as part of the Tashkent International Investment Forum.
In his address, Alexei Skatin highlighted Uzbekistan's role as a hub where trans-Eurasian transport routes converge. According to him, three key railway corridors simultaneously pass through the country: the China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan corridor (already under construction), the Trans-Afghan route, and the dedicated Tashkent–Samarkand high-speed rail line. In addition, the completion of the Darbaza–Maktaaral railway in Kazakhstan and the creation of a new border crossing will integrate Uzbekistan into the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (Middle Corridor), boosting mutual trade between the countries.
“Uzbekistan is transforming from a landlocked country into a crossroads of East–West and North–South routes. It is the combination of these routes that makes it a point of intersection, not just a transit episode,” noted Alexei Skatin.
A corridor only works when goods move along it
The development of transport corridors, according to the speaker, is impossible without the simultaneous development of warehousing infrastructure, dry ports, and container terminals. According to EDB estimates, demand for warehousing in Uzbekistan could grow more than sevenfold. Current availability remains low — and that is room for growth.
“A transport corridor only works when goods move along it. That is why we consider warehouses, dry ports and terminals together with transport routes, not separately. Warehouses are not an add-on to corridors — they are a condition for corridors to generate revenue,” Skatin emphasised.
Investment potential: the EDB Transport Observatory
The EDB is the leader among multilateral development banks in terms of non-sovereign financing in Central Asia. The Bank sees its task as unlocking the investment potential of both corridors and nodes — warehouses, dry ports, terminals — in Uzbekistan, in order to give development an additional impetus.
The information and analytical basis for this is the EDB Transport Projects Observatory. It shows where investments are already concentrated, where gaps exist and which projects could become the next growth points. The Observatory includes 400 projects across Eurasia with a total investment of $340 billion. Central Asia accounts for 114 projects worth $71.8 billion (21% of all investment), of which 30% (about $22 billion) is directed to railway sections. Five of the ten largest projects in the region are being implemented in Uzbekistan, and three of them are railway corridors.
According to EDB estimates, by 2030 freight traffic in Central Asia will grow by one and a half times — to 95 million tonnes compared with 2024 — while container traffic will grow by 67% to 1.7 million TEU. These figures reflect projected effects from the development of transport corridors, including the Eurasian Transport Network.
Priority projects in Uzbekistan
Among the key railway projects, Alexei Skatin highlighted:
- The China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan corridor. Already under construction. It will provide a direct container link between Uzbekistan and China, as well as routes to Turkmenistan, the South Caucasus, Turkey and the Gulf states. Container traffic through Uzbekistan will increase fivefold — from 100,000 to 500,000 TEU.
- The Trans-Afghan railway corridor. It will provide direct access to Pakistani ports, reducing the distance for Uzbek cargo by at least 1,000 km.
- The Tashkent–Samarkand high-speed rail line. The first dedicated high-speed rail project in Central Asia, which will free up the existing line for freight and container traffic.
Additional Information:
The Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) is a multilateral development bank investing in Eurasia. For 20 years, the Bank has worked to strengthen and expand economic ties and foster comprehensive development in its member countries. By the end of December 2025, the EDB’s cumulative portfolio comprised 326 projects with a total investment of US $19,6 billion. Its portfolio consists principally of projects with an integration effect in transport infrastructure, digital systems, green energy, agriculture, manufacturing and mechanical engineering. The Bank adheres to the UN Sustainable Development Goals and ESG principles in its operations.
The EDB is implementing three mega-projects as part of its 2022–2026 Strategy: the Eurasian Transport Network, the Eurasian Agricultural Goods Distribution System and the Central Asian Water and Energy Complex.
The EDB Media Centre:
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