Central Asia:
Cooperation in Transport Sector
Nigel C. Rayner,
Director, ECTC
ADB
The Region
2
The IFIs
• Involved since 1994,
• AZE, KAZ, KGZ, TAJ, TKM, UZB
• Lending-ADB, WB, EBRD, IsDB, Kfd, Sfd
• Non Lending-ADB, WB, EBRD, IsDB, EU,
and UNDP
• ADB-Road, Rail, and Air
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The State of Infrastructure
Road:
• 66,000 km of roads, 29,000 for regional traffic
• Lack of maintenance, Obsolete vehicle design, high operating
costs
• Low maintenance budgets, low fuel and road user charges.
Priority: Rehabilitation of the regional road network
Rail
• 22,100 km mainline, 5,000 double track and 4,000 electrified
• Track condition not good
• Old rolling stock and lack of spare parts
Priority: Rehabilitate the regional rail network
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Sector Issues
Road
• Lack of regional network
• Lack of institutional arrangements
• Lack of unified regulations and policies
• Lack of regulatory framework
• Inadequate maintenance and funding
system
• Ineffective processing systems
• Lack of flourishing private sector 5
Sector Issues
Rail
Lack of regional solidarity
Monolithic and monopolistic nature of the organisations
Discretionary tariff setting, with significant cross-
subsidies, often discouraging use of rail freight by
private shippers
Obsolete and poor quality of technology
Lack of well developed marketing orientation
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Central Asia Regional
Economic Cooperation
• 1st Senior Official Meeting–Aug 2001
• 1st Ministerial Conference – Mar 2002
• Regional Preparatory Meeting – Sept
2003
• 2nd Ministerial Conference-Nov 2003
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Output of the Second Ministerial
Conference
• Delegations endorsed the approach and general
thrust of the Transport sector note.
• Endorsed the following Strategic Priorities
development of regional transport corridors
harmonisation of the regulatory framework
improving border controls
focussed restructuring and modernisation
marketing and tariff setting based on competition
improving financing and management
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Major Achievements
• Almaty-Astana-ADB/WB/IsDB/Sfd/Adfd
• Almaty-Bishkek-ADB/EBRD
• Bishkek-Osh-ADB
• North-South Corridor-WB/IsDB/Kfd
• Dushanbe-Kulyab-PRC-ADB/IsDB
• Aktau-Atyrau-ADB/EBRD
• Chengledy-Khodhajavlet (rail) –
ADB/OPEC 9
Non-lending
• ADB, WB, EBRD, EU, UNDP, IsDB
• Regional Studies
• Feasibility Studies
• Institutional and Restructuring
• Capacity Building and Training
• Improving Financing and
Management/Marketing
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Lending-Pipeline (ADB)
• 10 loans- $300million (2003-2006)
• Dushanbe-Kyrgyz for link to Osh-Sarytash-
Irkestam-$35M-TAJ,$25M-KGZ
• Aktau-Atyrau - $55 million
• Borvoe-Petropavlovsk - $40 million
• North-South Corridor Project(AZE)-$18 million
• PRC-MON -$37.5 million
• UZB –AFG railway link - $20 million
• Bekhabad-Khanebadam Rly link -$20 million
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Non-Lending pipeline
(ADB)
• 13 TAs - $6 million
• Kazakhstan transport sector study
• Uzbekistan transport sector study
• Regional traffic enhancement study
• Policy reforms in transport sector
• Regional road development Phase I
• Harmonization of Cross border
initiatives for transport sector
• Regional railway development Phase I12
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