Lack of access to the sea remains a major obstacle for developing countries, making trade more expensive and difficult. Central Asia loses up to 2% of GDP annually due to high logistics costs.
The 3rd UN Conference for landlocked developing countries, held August 5–8 in Avaza, Turkmenistan, addresses these issues. Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev proposed creating a UN-backed global transit guarantee mechanism and an international fund for logistics integration.
Since 2017, Uzbekistan has prioritized transportation infrastructure upgrades. Key initiatives include the China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan railway and the Uzbekistan–Turkmenistan–Iran–Turkey corridor, offering sea access and reducing freight times and costs.
In 2024, Uzbekistan attracted $35 billion in FDI, mostly for export and transit-related infrastructure. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has invested over $3 billion in transport projects.
Additionally, Mirziyoyev proposed establishing an agricultural innovation hub in Uzbekistan to boost agrifood exports via modern logistics and technologies.
Uzbekistan is turning its geographic limitations into regional leadership, positioning itself as a key transit hub and logistics player in Central Asia.
