EDB report: The International North–South Transport Corridor’s importance is growing rapidly
The International North–South Transport Corridor (INSTC) becomes increasingly important as some EAEU countries reorientate their foreign trade and develop “new logistics.” For this reason, the Caspian countries are seeking to boost investment in the corridor’s transport infrastructure. EDB experts estimate that more than 100 projects are being planned for implementation before 2030. At the same time, over 40 non-tariff and other barriers impede the effective functioning of the corridor. A new EDB study provides recommendations on how to improve soft infrastructure, including the creation of an enabling environment for international freight transport, the harmonisation of border crossing procedures, and the introduction of a coordination mechanism for managing the INSTC.
Moscow, 26 October 2022. The Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) published a new report, International North–South Transport Corridor: Investments and Soft Infrastructure. The study assesses the investment potential of the INSTC, identifies barriers to its development and provides recommendations on how to eliminate them.
The INSTC is a key component of Eurasia’s transport network as it connects to most of the region’s latitudinal routes. Its role is growing significantly in the context of “new logistics.” The corridor is the shortest route for commodity transportation between EAEU countries and South Asia, East Africa and the Middle East. It also provides a logistical choice of three routes for shipping containers, grain, metals, wood products, food and other commodities. All three routes – the Western (via Azerbaijan), Eastern (via Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan) and Trans-Caspian (via Caspian seaports) ones – have spare handling capacity.
EDB analysts have identified over 40 barriers that impede INSTC development, grouped conventionally into infrastructural and non-physical barriers. These estimates are based on surveys of transport and freight-forwarding businesses as well as exporters and importers. The analysis showed that the factors that affect corridor competitiveness most significantly are missing links and critical infrastructure bottlenecks; lack of harmonised border crossing procedures; paper-based transport documents; and lack of an effective coordination mechanism for managing the corridor, including tariffs as well as freight and vehicle insurance.
EDB researchers have also prepared a database of INSTC investment projects using open-source data, national transport strategies and programmes. The database comprises more than 100 investment projects that are currently ongoing or being planned for implementation before 2030, for a total of over US $38 billion.
The projects have been divided into three groups. Those of the highest priority (Priority 1) are the projects which are critical to eliminating infrastructure barriers along the existing routes. These are, in particular, the projects to construct the missing Resht–Astara railway section; construct second main tracks and electrify railway lines in Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan; construct urban bypasses, upgrade inland waterways and shipping channels to standard condition and develop container and multi-purpose terminals in Caspian ports; modernise border crossing points and construct logistics centres and roadside service facilities. Bank analysts estimate investment in Priority 1 projects at US $10.7 billion.
A significant portion of INSTC infrastructure development projects is being carried out or planned in Russia and Iran. These countries account for 34.6% and 33.7% of total investment, respectively. Kazakhstan’s share of investment in INSTC development is 16.5%.
INSTC infrastructure development projects by country and priority
Source: EDB
The EDB’s report confirms the significant capital intensity of the projects to develop INSTC land infrastructure, especially roads and railways. The number of relevant investment projects totals 59 and 20. These are worth US $21.6 billion and US $11.6 billion, respectively. The other initiatives include 8 projects to develop seaports, 7 projects to develop border crossing points and related infrastructure, 4 projects to develop inland waterways and 4 shipbuilding projects. To improve transport performance as well as the quality of transport and logistics services and to reduce the negative impact on the environment and climate, investment is needed in projects that upgrade rolling stock and transhipment and other equipment in seaports and at transport and logistics centres.
Investment in INSTC development by mode of transport
Source: EDB
State budgets continue to play a major role in financing the corridor. The share of public investment in INSTC development reaches almost 80% in Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan and 76% in Russia. However, some of the projects to upgrade the fleet and rolling stock or develop roadside and logistics infrastructure are bankable and could be implemented as public-private partnerships. This would promote the involvement of private investors and multilateral development banks in their implementation.
EDB analysts believe that the development of INSTC transport infrastructure will not yield the expected results without soft infrastructure measures, including harmonisation of procedures and regulations and coordination of transport stakeholders by governments and the private sector. For this reason, improving such infrastructure is critical to the INSTC development agenda.
The EDB’s report formulates seven groups of measures to eliminate barriers, which will help expedite INSTC operationalisation and improve its efficiency. These include legal harmonisation in customs clearance, information exchange and facilitation of border crossing procedures; development of a coordinated tariff policy; establishment of payment and settlement mechanisms between transport stakeholders; freight and vehicle insurance; digitalisation of transport documents and procedures; and establishment of a coordination mechanism for managing the INSTC.
The new EDB study confirms that transport infrastructure projects, together with soft infrastructure initiatives, will boost and speed up freight transport not only along the INSTC but also along other transport corridors that connect to the INSTC and routes that are part of the Eurasian Transport Network.
International North–South Transport Corridor: Investments and Soft Infrastructure is available on the Bank’s website.
Additional Information:
The Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) is an international financial institution promoting integration and development in its member countries. For more than 16 years, the Bank has worked to strengthen and expand economic ties and foster comprehensive development in its member countries – Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Russia and Tajikistan. The EDB's charter capital totals US $7 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’s operations are guided by the UN Sustainable Development Goals and ESG principles.
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