The EDB-funded Big Almaty Ring Road (BAKAD) is inaugurated
Almaty, 16 June 2023. Nikolai Podguzov, Chairman of the Eurasian Development Bank’s (EDB) Management Board, participated in the inauguration of the Big Almaty Ring Road (BAKAD), Central Asia’s first public-private partnership (PPP) project.
The ceremony was attended by Alibek Kuantyrov,Minister of National Economy of the Republic of Kazakhstan; Yerbolat Dossayev, Akim of Almaty; Marat Sultangaziyev, Akim of the Almaty Region; Nandit Parshad, Managing Director for Infrastructure at the EBRD; and Ibrahim Ali Shoukry, Regional Head of the IsDB Regional Hub in Almaty; as well as representatives from Alarko, Makyol, SK Ecoplant, and Korea Expressway Corporation.
"BAKAD plays an important role in the expansion of transport routes in the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the entire Eurasian region. The new facility will connect international road routes in the "East-West" direction and will contribute to improving transport connectivity, expanding opportunities for freight transportation. The projected volume of cargo transported in the BAKAD area in the next 15 years will increase by 87% and reach 35.9 million tonnes. At the same time, BAKAD will bring social and environmental effects. During the construction phase, the facility has already provided jobs for more than 1,500 people, mostly locals. And after commissioning, it will redistribute the traffic load on the street and road network of Almaty and the suburban area, will take the transit transport out of the city limits, which will reduce the level of negative impact on the environment, reduce noise, and will contribute to a safer traffic", - said Nikolay Podguzov Сhairman Chairman of the EDB Management Board.
The public partner in the project was the Ministry of Industry and Infrastructure Development of Kazakhstan.
The project aims to bolster the transit potential and competitiveness of transit routes across the Bank’s member states, stimulate trade and economic cooperation, promote cross-border freight traffic, and alleviate traffic congestion in and around Almaty.
Spanning 66 kilometres, BAKAD comprises sections with either four (9 km) or six (57 km) lanes along with bridges, interchanges, and necessary infrastructure.
The project is socially important as its construction phase generated over 2,000 jobs, with 85% of the workforce comprised of local employees, including those from vulnerable groups. During the operation phase, the project is expected to employ approximately 300 individuals. Further, the project has supported local communities by improving existing roads, building new passageways, conducting charity events for vulnerable groups, and raising awareness about road safety among local schoolchildren, among other activities.
The EDB continues to support infrastructure development and promote transport connectivity in its member countries, contributing to economic growth, trade, and regional cooperation.
Additional Information:
The Eurasian Development Bank is an international financial institution promoting integration and development in its member countries. For more than 17 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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