Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Transport on September 13 chaired an international conference to discuss international road transport links and measures to ensure sustainable development and prosperity.
Co-hosted by the International Road Transport Union (IRU) and the Association of International Carriers of Uzbekistan, the event saw representatives of 11 international organizations and 93 foreign delegations from 29 countries, which focused on discussing ways to strengthen bilateral and multilateral cooperation in the field of road transport and facilitate the transportation of goods by road in a situation of peak logistics problems in the world.
The World Bank has been collaborating with Uzbekistan to support its transport sector in various areas. One of our main projects was the Pap-Angren Railway, which connected the main part of Uzbekistan with the Fergana Valley through a railway tunnel. Additionally, we supported the rehabilitation of regional roads in four regions of Uzbekistan in the Tashkent region, as well as three regions of the Fergana Valley. Currently, we are working with the government to prepare feasibility studies for regional airports, Tashkent-Andijan Toll Road, and others. We are also helping to increase the bankability of Uzbekistan's transport sector SOEs so they can attract commercial financing from international capital markets. Our multi-phased series of projects will support several transport subsectors and help to rehabilitate a key regional corridor connecting Termez with the Uzbekistan-Tajikistan border. We have the resources and willingness to support the government's intention to diversify its regional connectivity links and contribute to a new PPP agenda in the transport sector, including road, railway, and aviation subsectors,'
Mansur Bustoni, the World Bank's Transport and Digital Development Projects Coordinator, told Daryo.
Our efforts to connect Uzbekistan with the world have resulted in a multitude of bilateral activities that are actually very multilateral. It's truly an impressive success story. When I first visited Uzbekistan 15-20 years ago, there were hardly any vehicles on the roads, especially trucks. However, today, Uzbekistan has outperformed expectations as a double landlocked country and has become the top issuer of Tir Carnets, utilizing all the best available instruments to facilitate trade. This is a testament to their success, and I'm proud to share their model as an example of growth,'
Umberto de Pretto, IRU Secretary-General told media. He believes that success lies in cooperation between the private sector and the government, both working towards the common goal of trade growth for economic development. Uzbekistan is following this approach.
The greater the economic growth, the more people will experience prosperity and success. This includes improved education, health, transport services, and mobility for all. Uzbekistan is a prime example of this success regionally and globally. As I return to Geneva, I will share this message with the world - to succeed and follow in Uzbekistan's footsteps,
He stressed, adding that only two countries in the world are double landlocked, but instead of resigning to the situation, they chose to become land-linked. The key to achieving this was through road transport. This mode of transportation allows for anything grown or produced to be easily transported by truck to any destination in the world and then onto a ship if necessary. Uzbekistan recognizes the importance of road transport in driving progress, prosperity, and, ultimately, peace in the region.
I believe the most impressive project accomplished here is the collaboration between public and private entities to eliminate obstacles. Previously, there were no trucks due to restrictions on foreign vehicles and reluctance to allow Uzbek vehicles to leave. However, now there is a smooth flow of traffic in and out of Uzbekistan, setting a great example. This is all thanks to a shared desire for economic growth through trade. The growth has been significant, with a 77-fold increase in the number of vehicles, and it is expected to continue exponentially. The challenge now is managing this growth, which can be achieved through cooperation between the private and public sectors. With this approach, Uzbekistan has the potential to become a wealthy nation, comparable to Switzerland, despite being landlocked.
The IRU is an international road transport organization that manages the TIR system, aimed at facilitating the transit of goods within the framework of the Customs Convention. Uzbekistan has been a member of this convention since 1996.
The conference's main objective is to discuss the full utilization of existing opportunities in road transport and develop appropriate proposals.
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