Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) - Despite the fact that the shortest routes connecting European and Asian markets pass through our region, transport costs for Central Asian countries reach 60 percent of the cost of imported products.

The solution to this problem requires the modernization of transport infrastructure and the creation of centers for the provision of logistics services in the region. In recent years, Uzbekistan has become the main initiator of practical measures in this direction.

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev at the first Consultative Meeting of Central Asian Heads of State held in 2018 in Nur Sultan drew special attention to the fact that the priority task is to create for the region the opportunity to access large sea ports and the world market through the implementation of transport and communication projects.

On the initiative of the head of our state, the Resolution of the UN General Assembly was adopted “Strengthening regional and international cooperation to ensure peace, security and sustainable socio-economic development in the Central Asian region." The document stipulates the development of transport infrastructure and transit corridors in the region, strengthening the interaction of all modes of transport through the opening of new road routes, railways and flights.

Last fall Tashkent hosted an international conference on the theme "Central Asia in the system of international transport corridors: strategic prospects and unrealized opportunities." The event, which was attended by representatives of more than 40 countries, international organizations, financial institutions, large transport companies, allowed to outline the prospects for increasing the transport and transit potential of the countries of the region.

In the face of such initiatives, an atmosphere of mutual trust and friendship, the countries of Central Asia are implementing a number of transport projects.

Flights between the capitals of Uzbekistan and Tajikistan have been restored. The movement of high-speed trains along the route Tashkent - Almaty, additional flights, traffic along the automobile corridor Tashkent - Andijan - Osh - Irkeshtam - Kashgar, leading from Central Asia to China, were established.

In order to increase the volume of transit traffic last year, the Jartepa checkpoint and the Galaba-Amuzang-Khushadi railway line were launched on the border between Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. The activity of eight automobile corridors and the Amuzang railway station, the Dustlik checkpoint on the Uzbek-Kyrgyz border was restored.

New railway and road bridges Turkmenabad - Farab were put into operation, opening direct access of freight flows through the Amu Darya from the countries of the Asia-Pacific region, South Asia to the Caspian Sea and further to the Black Sea and Mediterranean regions, countries of Europe, Transcaucasia, the Near and Middle East.

The construction process of the Uzbekistan-Kyrgyzstan-China railway has also entered an active phase, through which it will be possible to carry out cargo transportation from China through Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan to countries of Eastern Europe and the Middle East. It will also contribute to the development of transport and logistics infrastructure in Central Asia.

Another success is the establishment of flights between Uzbekistan and Afghanistan, which will help to use the Tashkent airport as an air hub for flights on Afghan planes to European countries.

The countries of the region pay serious attention to international transport projects, one of which is the opening of the Eurasia transport corridor. It is planned to build and commission this highway connecting China with Eastern Europe until 2023.

Of course, such measures aimed at increasing the transport potential of the region give the expected results. If we consider the example of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, we can see how the volume of transit increases in these countries every year.

In 2017, the volume of cargo transportation by road in Kazakhstan amounted to 2.1 million tons. This indicator exceeds the previous ones by almost 50 percent. And in 2018, the volume of freight traffic through the country amounted to 19.2 million tons.

According to the State Customs Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan, in 2017 the volume of transit through vehicles from our country reached 582.6 thousand tons, and in 2018 - 637.7 thousand tons.

On 29 November, Tashkent will host the second Consultative Meeting of Central Asian Heads of State. The agenda of this event includes issues of strengthening scientific, technical, cultural and humanitarian ties, development of not only trade, economic and investment cooperation, but also the transport infrastructure of the region. The high-level dialogue of the countries of the region will serve as the basis for discussing additional joint efforts to increase the transport and transit potential of Central Asia, as well as developing new measures in this direction.