ECONOMIC IMPACT OF INTERNATIONAL TRANSPORT CORRIDORS ON UZBEKISTAN'S TRADE AND TRANSIT POTENTIAL
Abstract
As a double-landlocked nation, Uzbekistan’s economic trajectory is inextricably linked to the efficiency of its overland transit networks. This paper assesses the strategic development of International Transport Corridors (ITCs) and their impact on national trade and logistics performance. By synthesizing recent empirical data from the World Bank, CAREC, and national statistics (2020–2025), the study evaluates the performance of three critical axes: The Trans-Caspian Middle Corridor, the North–South Corridor, and the China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan (CKU) railway. The analysis reveals a significant paradigm shift in Uzbekistan's transit role; total international freight and transit volumes surged to over 2.8 million tons in 2025, with the CKU route alone experiencing a jump from 33,700 tons to 1.8 million tons since 2020. Our findings indicate that these multi-vector infrastructure investments have successfully reduced the distance tax, lowered transit times by approximately 40%, and fostered trade diversification. Furthermore, the transition of 24 national hubs to international dry port status has catalyzed Uzbekistan’s emergence as a regional logistics node. The paper concludes with evidence-based policy recommendations, emphasizing the need for synchronized customs digitalization, the renewal of 90% of aging rail rolling stock, and deeper regional institutional alignment to fully capitalize on the UN Decade of Sustainable Transport (2025–2035).