The progress of major projects in the transport and logistics sector was reviewed

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev reviewed a presentation on the progress of major projects in the transport and logistics sector, the press service of the head of our state reports.

The country’s rapid economic growth and the expansion of industrial production and foreign trade necessitate the consistent development of transport infrastructure. A key priority in this regard is transforming Uzbekistan into a pivotal hub on the shortest overland route connecting the Pacific Ocean to Europe, while also enhancing access to international markets.

Plans for 2030 include doubling the volume of transport services, attracting $9.1 billion in investment to the sector, and raising service exports to $5.7 billion. The presentation covered the infrastructure projects required to achieve these goals, their implementation timelines, and outstanding issues requiring resolution.

The session began with an overview of airport construction and modernization efforts.

New airport complexes with a combined value of nearly $3 billion are currently under construction in Tashkent and Bukhara. The new Tashkent International Airport is designed to handle 20 million passengers annually in its initial phase. Public-private partnership agreements have been signed for the project, and work is underway to prepare the construction site and relocate utility networks.

Airfield infrastructure is being built at the new Bukhara International Airport. An international tender is currently in progress to select a private partner for the construction and operation of the passenger terminal.

Progress on modernizing the Urgench and Namangan airports through public-private partnerships, as well as the Andijan airport with the involvement of a private operator, was also reviewed. These initiatives will increase airport capacity and enhance passenger service capabilities in line with international standards.

Particular attention was also paid to road infrastructure development.

Last month, construction began on the $2.2 billion Tashkent–Samarkand toll road. The first toll road connecting the cities of Urgench and Khiva has been put into operation.

During the presentation, discussions focused on financing subsequent stages of the Tashkent–Samarkand project, identifying investors for the Tashkent–Andijan and Tashkent–Bostanlyk toll road projects, and tasks related to launching practical work.

Proposals were presented to increase the capacity of the railway network.

Currently, several railway sections along key transit routes are operating under heavy load. Rising industrial freight volumes and the introduction of new high-speed trains will further increase the strain on existing infrastructure.

In this regard, measures were reviewed to modernize the Maktaaral–Syrdarya, Angren–Pap, Tashguzar–Baysun–Kumkurgan, Tashkent–Samarkand, and Tukimachi–Angren routes. It was noted that allocating $200 million for these works could increase the capacity of these sections by 25–30 percent.

Reports were presented on the construction of the China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan railway, the creation of a dedicated high-speed line between Tashkent and Samarkand, and projects to expand and electrify regional railway networks. Proposals for modernizing the freight wagon fleet and increasing private sector involvement in this process were also discussed.

Separate consideration was given to developing international transport corridors and expanding access to global markets via seaports.

Information was presented on ongoing efforts to establish logistics infrastructure involving Uzbekistan at the Caspian Sea ports of Aktau, Turkmenbashi, and Baku, as well as the Black Sea ports of Poti and Anaklia. Notably, an agreement has been signed to establish a logistics center at the port of Poti, and a feasibility study for the project is currently being developed. Opportunities are being explored for participation in the development of the Anaklia port and the construction of the Nakhichevan railway, which will provide access to the Turkish ports of Samsun and Istanbul.

These projects will enable the diversification of supply routes to foreign markets for textile, chemical, agricultural, and mining-metallurgical products.

The need to expand the network of logistics centers within the country itself—to ensure the effective use of international transport corridors—was also highlighted.

A progress report was presented on the implementation of directives regarding the specialization of the cities of Khanabad and Angren, as well as the Yangiyul, Akhangaran, Alat, and Termez districts, in transport and logistics activities. Plans are in place to implement 17 projects to establish logistics centers and terminals in Tashkent city and the Tashkent, Andijan, Surkhandarya, and Bukhara regions. Discussions covered their locations, investor attraction, financing, and the provision of necessary infrastructure.

The presentation focused particularly on the digitalization of freight transport and the reduction of the shadow economy within the sector.

It was noted that the share of the shadow economy in the freight transport sector still exceeds 42 percent. Key challenges in this area include the lack of a unified registry for local freight vehicles and the absence of an integrated electronic system linking the generation of electronic orders with all transport services.

In light of this, proposals were made to create a unified digital transport system, establish a registry of carriers, and implement an aggregator platform for processing electronic waybills and orders. Measures to expand the exchange of electronic permits and introduce real-time cargo tracking capabilities for international shipments were also discussed.

These initiatives aim to create a more convenient environment for carriers, bring informal services into the formal economy, and enhance transparency across the sector.

The Head of State emphasized the importance of clearly defining implementation timelines, funding sources, and expected outcomes for the proposed projects, as well as ensuring their coordinated execution. Officials were given specific instructions regarding the matters discussed.