As of July 1, 2025, the combined investments of Central Asian countries in the development of the Eurasian Transport Framework (ETF) have reached approximately $53 billion, representing more than 22% of the total project portfolio in the Eurasian region, according to the Eurasian Development Bank’s (EDB) Transport Projects Observatory.
Across Central Asia, 90 infrastructure projects are currently being implemented, nearly two-thirds of which are focused on the construction and modernization of major highways.
Kazakhstan remains the regional leader in investment, with $23.3 billion (44% of all regional investments), followed by Kyrgyzstan ($12 billion), Uzbekistan ($7.2 billion), Turkmenistan ($5.3 billion), and Tajikistan ($5 billion).
The Top 10 largest projects in Central Asia account for 58% of all ETF investments in the region. These include:
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The China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan railway — $4.7 billion;
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The Tashkent–Andijan expressway — $4.3 billion;
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The Balykchy–Kochkor–Kara-Keche–Makmal–Jalal-Abad railway — $4.1 billion;
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The North–South railway in Tajikistan — $3.9 billion;
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Other regional and cross-border projects aimed at enhancing connectivity and trade flows.
Central Asia is also actively employing public–private partnership (PPP) mechanisms, with around 17 PPP projects underway or planned, including two cross-border initiatives — the China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan railway corridor and the Trans-Afghan railway corridor.
According to the EDB, prioritizing projects is especially important for countries with limited investment capacity and relatively low GDP, such as Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. In these states, spending on transport infrastructure represents a significant share of the economy but is viewed as a key driver for boosting trade, transit, and international freight flows, reports Azerbaijani Report.
CentralasianLIGHT.org
August 11, 2025