Transport integration of Central Asia: contribution of Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan

The two countries stand at the intersection of key transit routes East-West and North-South, which determines the high demand for joint projects in the field of logistics, multimodal transportation and digital solutions.

Thanks to the balanced policy of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Miromonovich Mirziyoyev, the atmosphere of good neighborliness and trust is strengthening, transport connectivity and integration in the region are deepening.

As the head of state noted in his recent article“Central Asia on the threshold of a new era”: “What can be called a new regional identity of Central Asia is gradually being born. A sense of belonging to a single regional space is being formed, where neighborhood is not a challenge, but an opportunity, where the success of one becomes a common achievement. Interaction between Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan clearly reflects this trend: increasing the synchronization of infrastructure projects and By simplifying transit procedures, countries are creating the basis for more competitive and sustainable supply chains.

In 9 months 2025, the volume of cargo transportation between countries increased by 30 % compared to the same period last year and amounted to 1,3 million. tons

At the same time, the largest share of transportation (43%) accounts for
on road transport, which makes it one of the key elements of transport connectivity between the two countries. Routes through Turkmen territory provide Uzbekistan with access to the Caspian Sea, the Middle East and Iran, which makes this direction key for the diversification of foreign trade.

Thanks to the modernization of checkpoints, optimization of processes and the introduction of digital tools, the volume of road transport is showing steady growth.

Commissioning of the reconstructed complex Farap road customs post in December 2024 became a significant step in the development of regional transport and logistics infrastructure.

As a result of modernization, the facility's capacity increased to 1000 transport means per day, which is twice the previous figure. This infrastructure upgrade not only strengthened the corridor's capacity, but also created additional opportunities for increasing trade flows between countries.

Since 2025, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan have reached an agreement to establish parity conditions for fees and payments for transportation road transport in the territories of both countries, which provides transparent and equal conditions for carriers, reduces transportation costs, simplifies transit and increases the efficiency of road transport.

For further expansion of road transport, it is advisable to consider the opportunity joint work on the optimization of individual procedures, including visa formalities, in order to create more flexible and convenient conditions for carriers.

In addition, Cooperation in the field of railway transport is being strengthened, which occupies a special place in bilateral relations.

Through the territory of Turkmenistan there is sustainable logistics access to the ports of Turkmenbashi on the Caspian Sea and Bandar Abbas on the Persian Gulf, which significantly expands the possibilities of multimodal transport in the direction of the Caucasus, Turkey, Europe and the Middle East East.

The joint work of railway administrations is aimed at
to increase the capacity of connecting stations, optimize tariff solutions and develop container services, which allows increasing the speed and stability of transportation.

At the same time, tariff support has become one of the key tools for stimulating transit. For the transportation of goods through Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan discounts of up to 50% are provided depending on the range of goods transported and the route, which contributes to the stability of transit
and creating reliable conditions for carriers.

The maritime infrastructure of Turkmenbashi is of particular importance for the development of multimodal chains. The modernized internationalporthas become one of the key hubs of the Trans-Caspian communication.

In order to expand cooperation, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed in August 2025 in the city of Turkmenbashi between the Ministry of Transport of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the State Service of Maritime and River Transport Turkmenistan, providing for cooperation in the field of shipbuilding.

In parallel, international transport corridors are developing at an active pace, ensuring transit growth for all route participants.

One such example is the CASCA+ route, connecting Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey and has been operating since 2019. Over six years of existence, a Coordination council was created for its development, tariff benefits of up to 70% were provided for cargo transportation and favorable conditions were created for operators.

As a result, the volume of export and import cargo of Uzbekistan
along the route in 2024 amounted to 1 million. tons, which is fivetimes morethan the indicators of 2019.

For the development of this corridor it is important to coordinate efforts
to ensure uninterrupted cargo transportation through the port Turkmenbashi, carrying out dredging works at berths and increasing number ferries.

At the same time, work is underway to develop an alternative route through Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Iran and Turkey. Thus, in Novemberin the month of 2023 in the city of Tashkent of the Republic of Uzbekistan, within the framework of the meeting of ministers of ECO, a Protocol of a multilateral meeting was signed between the relevant ministries in the field of transport between four countries (Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Iran and Türkiye) on the formation of an international multimodal corridor between Asia and Europe through “Uzbekistan - Turkmenistan - Iran - Turkey”.

Its implementation will allow to connect the countries of the Asian-Pacific region with the states of the European Union through the territories of Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Iran and Turkey, creating a new sustainable logistics corridor.

For the development of the corridor, it is important to strengthen joint work to create competitive carriage costs and favorable conditions for the transportation of goods by rail in Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Iran and Turkey, unification regulatory-legal and technical standards and increasing transport interconnectivity of the participating countries.

In the field aviation cooperation August 22, 2025
In Turkmenbashi, a Protocol was signed between the Ministry of Transport of Uzbekistan and the State Service “Turkmenhowayollary” on the development of cooperation in civil aviation, providing for the organization of the resumption of regular flights between countries.

Increase in volumes transportation, diversification of routes
and an increase in the level of technological interaction create the conditions for the creation of a new logistics space in Central Asia, where Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan act as complementary elements of the regional infrastructure.

Joint efforts to modernize transport corridors, digitalize processes and create favorable conditions
for cargo owners they form a stable foundation for long-term development.

In the future, deepening cooperation between Uzbekistan
and Turkmenistan will become an important factor in transport integration of the region into the Euro-Asian network, strengthening the competitiveness of routes, creating new logistics alternatives and turning Central Asia into the main transit hub of the continent. style = "text-align: right;"