International North–South Transport Corridor: Investments and Soft Infrastructure.
Reports and Working Papers 22/2
Almaty, Moscow: Eurasian Development Bank, 2022
Reports and Working Papers 22/2
Almaty, Moscow: Eurasian Development Bank, 2022
Investment in the Water and Energy Complex of Central Asia.
Authors: Evgeny Vinokurov, Nursultan Usmanov et al. Reports and Working Papers, 21/3. Almaty, Moscow: Eurasian Development Bank, 2021. [paper] [summary] [presentation] [map1] [map2]
Authors: Evgeny Vinokurov, Nursultan Usmanov et al. Reports and Working Papers, 21/3. Almaty, Moscow: Eurasian Development Bank, 2021. [paper] [summary] [presentation] [map1] [map2]
The report examines Central Asia's water and energy complex after 30 years of independence of the five Central Asian countries (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan) and assesses their cooperation in the water and energy complex. It analyses the key challenges facing the Central Asian countries in addressing water and energy issues and conducts an in-depth study of the ongoing and prospective investment projects in Central Asia's water and energy complex. The report argues that the lack of cooperation among the Central Asian countries in the water and energy complex results in significant economic losses. According to the reported data, annual economic damage and unrealised economic benefits are estimated at as high as US $4.5 billion, which is 1.5% of the regional GDP. The EDB preliminarily estimates that remedying inefficiencies in the water and energy complex might add 7% (US $22 billion) to the region's GDP over a five-year horizon.
ABSTRACT
This study evaluates the investment potential of the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), identifies barriers hindering its development, and offers recommendations to overcome them. The INSTC is a crucial part of the Eurasian Transport Network, connecting multiple transport corridors for increased logistics and supply chain opportunities. The three INSTC routes enable the creation of new logistics for various cargo types. Over 40 physical and soft infrastructure barriers were identified, including bottlenecks, lack of harmonized border crossing procedures, paper-based transport documents, and insufficient coordination mechanisms. A database of over 100 ongoing or planned investment projects was created, with Priority 1 projects requiring an estimated $10.7 billion to eliminate infrastructure barriers along existing routes. Private investment and public-private partnerships could finance some projects, promoting private investor involvement. Implementation of investment projects and improved soft infrastructure is likely to improve INSTC efficiency, transport infrastructure, logistics services, and mutual cooperation between countries.