Central Asian strategic transport plan agreed

[John Ashworth]

Central Asian strategic transport plan agreed

05 November 2012 Railway Gazette

ASIA: Meeting at Wuhan in China at the end of October, ministers from the 10 Central Asia Regional Economic Co-operation Program countries agreed an action plan to implement transport infrastructure projects costing more than US$23bn, together with energy and trade initiatives aimed at improving connectivity.

The majority of the medium-term rail, road and air projects prioritised in the Wuhan Action Plan relate to the six CAREC corridors, which according to the Asian Development Bank are to be developed on a 'voluntary' and 'pragmatic' basis. The action plan is seen as living document which would be updated annually. ADB will act as facilitator.

As well as building new infrastructure, efforts will be made to reduce bureaucratic barriers to cross-border trade and to tackle smuggling. Work is to be undertaken to assess the role of public-private partnerships in the development of transport infrastructure.

Table of Railway priority projects in the CAREC 2020 strategy [see link]