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$23bn, together with energy and trade initiatives aimed at improving connectivity.
The majority of the medium-term rail, road and air projects prioritised in the Wuhan Action Plan relate to the six CAREC corridors, which according to the Asian Development Bank are to be developed on a 'voluntary' and 'pragmatic' basis. The action plan is seen as living document which would be updated annually. ADB will act as facilitator.
As well as building new infrastructure, efforts will be made to reduce bureaucratic barriers to cross-border trade and to tackle smuggling. Work is to be undertaken to assess the role of public-private partnerships in the development of transport infrastructure.
Railway priority projects in the CAREC 2020 strategy | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Country | Project | Cost (US$m) | Planned implementation |
| Afghanistan | Construction of 62 km fourth stage of (Iran) - Rahzanak/Ghurian - Herat route | 125·0 | 2011-13 |
| Afghanistan | Construction of Sherkhan Bandar - Kunduz - Khulm - Naibabad - Andkhvoy - Herat route | 450·0 | 2012-15 |
| Afghanistan | Construction of Aqina (Turkmenistan) - Andkhvoy route | 75·0 | 2012-15 |
| Azerbaijan | Trade and transport facilitation for Baku - Tbilisi - Kars route project | 795·0 | 2011-14 |
| Kazakhstan | Construction of Zhezkazgan - Saksaul'skaya route | 2007·0 | 2012-16 |
| Kazakhstan | Almaty - Korgas | 1068·0 | 2012-15 |
| Kyrgyzstan | Purchase of equipment for wagon repair and maintenance facility | 4·0 | 2011-12 |
| Kyrgyzstan | Rehabilitation of Balykchy - Chaldovar - Lugovaya (Kazakhstan) route | 65·6 | 2011-15 |
| Kyrgyzstan | Electrification of Lugovaya (Kazakhstan) - Bishkek route | 250·0 | 2011-16 |
| Mongolia | Track maintenance depot | 35·0 | 2012-14 |
| Mongolia | Rail operations control centre | 57·0 | 2012-14 |
| Mongolia | Passenger station extension | 45·0 | 2012-15 |
| Tajikistan | Construction of 40 km Vahdat - Yavan route | 180·0 | 2012-15 |
| Tajikistan | Construction of 50 km Kolkhozobod - Dusti - Nizhniy Pyandzh - Afghan border route | 90·0 | 2012-15 |
| Turkmenistan | Construction of Dashoguz - Shasenem - Gazojak route | 454·0 | 2013-15 |
| Turkmenistan | Construction of Atamurat - Ymamnazar - Aqina route | 200·0 | 2012-13 |
| Uzbekistan | Acquisition of new freight and passenger locomotives | 122·5 | 2009-11/2013-14 |
| Uzbekistan | Electrification of Qarshi - Termez route | 388·0 | 2012-17 |
| Uzbekistan | Navoi - Uchkuduk - Sultanuizdag - Nukus route | 149·5 | ongoing to 2012 |
| Uzbekistan | Doubling and electrification of 93 km Yangiyer - Jizzax route | 320·7 | 2009-13 |
| Uzbekistan | Electrification of Marakand - Qarshi route | 208·4 | 2011-16 |
| Uzbekistan | Electrification of Marakand - Navoi - Bukhara route | 443·9 | 2014-18 |
