'Global Gateway': The importance of logistics and transport infrastructure development projects within the European Platform

In recent years, cooperation between Uzbekistan and the European Union has reached a new level. In particular, transport and logistics are becoming one of the most important and strategic areas of this cooperation, writes D.T. Ibragimova.

By the end of 2024, Uzbekistan's freight traffic volume with Western countries amounted to 2.8 million tonnes, of which over 1 million tonnes were transported through Caspian Sea ports.

Currently, Uzbekistan is also consistently developing its logistics system to support this development and strengthen regional integration. International logistics centres are being established throughout the country, and new rail connections are being established.

In particular, practical work has begun on the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway project. According to experts, this railway will serve as the shortest route from China to Europe and the Middle East, shortening the overall distance by approximately 900 kilometres and reducing cargo delivery time by 7-8 days.

Furthermore, the shallowing of the Caspian Sea has become a serious problem in recent years. This limits the ability of fully laden vessels to navigate, leading to increased shipping costs. Therefore, infrastructure development along existing routes, expansion of port and logistics capacities, and investment coordination are becoming increasingly important.

The European Union has identified this area as a priority within its Global Gateway strategy. Since 2001, the Asian Development Bank has allocated a total of $4 billion to modernise the Middle Corridor infrastructure. In January 2024, the European Commission announced a €10 billion investment package to accelerate the development of this route, reduce cargo delivery times to 15 days, and digitalise logistics processes.

At the Samarkand summit in April 2025, the European Union presented an expanded investment package of €12 billion. This package covers four priority areas and aims to strengthen transport links between Europe and Central Asia. The European Union and Uzbekistan have established active cooperation within the framework of the Trans-Caspian (Middle Corridor) transport route.

According to the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, and the European Commission, the volume of cargo transported along the Middle Corridor is expected to reach 10-11 million tonnes per year by 2030. As a result of the changing geopolitical balance after 2022, this route is increasingly important as a strategic corridor, replacing the Northern Transport Route. This not only strengthens regional economic cooperation but also creates new transit opportunities for Uzbekistan.

In recent years, a number of important infrastructure projects have been implemented to develop the Middle Corridor. The ports of Aktau and Kuryk in Kazakhstan have been expanded, their logistics potential has been increased, and they have been transformed into modern multimodal transport hubs. Modernisation of the Baku International Seaport in Azerbaijan is also progressing rapidly; by the end of 2025, the port's capacity is planned to reach 25 million tons.

Infrastructure investments aimed at increasing Uzbekistan's transport potential are focused on short-, medium-, and long-term projects, including the construction of highways along the Tashkent-Samarkand and Tashkent-Andijan routes, the development of multimodal logistics centres and Category A warehouses in the Fergana Valley and the Samarkand, Bukhara, Navoi, and Tashkent regions, and the expansion of existing railway capacity.

Projects implemented within the Global Gateway framework are aimed not only at modernising the transport system but also at stimulating economic growth, creating new jobs, and implementing sustainable development principles. European Union projects prioritise principles of environmental sustainability, energy efficiency, and digital governance. For example, "green infrastructure" standards are being implemented on roads under construction and reconstruction, which require minimizing environmental impacts during construction and using energy-efficient materials and equipment.

The significance of such cooperation lies in the fact that it brings not only economic benefits but also strengthens political and humanitarian ties. The Global Gateway platform renews the European Union's strategic relationship with Central Asia, promoting the development of a sustainable and open infrastructure model in the region.

Uzbekistan is participating in this process as an equal partner of Europe, fully demonstrating its economic potential and transit capabilities.

In summary, the Global Gateway initiative opens a new stage for Uzbekistan not only in the development of the transport sector but also in global economic integration and the country's sustainable development.

As a result of projects implemented jointly with the European Union, Uzbekistan's logistics and transport infrastructure will rise to a qualitatively new level, and the country's transit potential and international prestige will further increase. This will strengthen the foundation for sustainable cooperation in the future, not only at the regional but also at the Eurasian level.

Author: D.T. Ibragimova, head of the Centre for the Study of Problems of Transport and Logistics Development under the Ministry of Transport of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

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