Uzbekistan and Tajikistan Launch Pilot Multimodal Transport Corridor

Tashkent, The Gulf Observer: As part of a pilot initiative, a convoy of 10 fully loaded trucks will travel from Uzbekistan through Tajikistan to China, marking a significant step in regional transport and trade cooperation.

The agreements were reached during negotiations between the Ministers of Transport of Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, Ilhom Mahkamov and Azim Ibrohim, who discussed plans to jointly launch shipments to China via the newly proposed China–Tajikistan–Uzbekistan–Turkmenistan–Iran–Türkiye–Europe multimodal corridor. Permits for international cargo transportation along this route will be issued electronically, streamlining cross-border logistics.

The transport corridor was first presented in 2022 at the International Logistics Development Conference held in Dushanbe, highlighting its potential to enhance trade connectivity between Central Asia, the Middle East, and Europe.

During the talks, measures were agreed to increase the capacity of the Jartepa–Sarazm border crossing in the Urgut district of Samarkand region along the Uzbek-Tajik border. A new logistics center near the checkpoint is planned to serve up to 100 trucks per day.

The project also includes the construction of a diagnostic center capable of handling 150–200 people daily and a commercial complex for 800 entrepreneurs. Tajik citizens will be able to access commercial and medical services at the border without undergoing passport control or completing additional documentation, significantly facilitating trade and mobility.

Furthermore, the relevant commission considered expanding the number of international road transport permit forms and converting them to an electronic format to further simplify cross-border logistics.

This initiative is expected to strengthen regional cooperation, increase trade flows, and promote economic integration across Central Asia and beyond.