Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev participated in the third UN Conference on landlocked developing countries held in Turkmenistan’s National Tourist Zone “Avaza” in Turkmenbashi on August 5, marking a significant step toward addressing the chronic challenges faced by countries without maritime access. The conference focused on strengthening transport connectivity, trade facilitation, economic transformation, and climate resilience — issues that directly impact nearly 32 landlocked nations worldwide.
Speaking at the forum, President Mirziyoyev emphasized that full participation of landlocked countries in global trade represents a fundamental question of fairness. “The agenda that unites us today touches upon a fundamental issue — the issue of justice. This means providing landlocked states with the opportunity to participate in the world economy on equal terms,” he stated during his address.
The Uzbek leader highlighted the severe economic burden of geographic isolation, citing World Bank data showing that Central Asian countries lose up to 2% of their GDP annually due to transport instability and high shipping costs. Logistics expenses can account for up to 60% of total goods value — several times higher than the global average. “Access to our country’s maritime communications is only possible through the territory of several states. Geographic distance from ports — in our case, almost 3,000 kilometers — creates a number of objective problems. They manifest themselves in high tariffs, limited capacity of transport corridors and infrastructure, as well as dependence on the customs and transit policies of other states,” President Mirziyoyev explained.
Strategic transport corridor development
Central Asia is currently forming a unified transport and logistics space, with multiple ambitious projects underway to transform the region into a comprehensive transit hub connecting East and West, North and South. Construction of the China — Kyrgyzstan — Uzbekistan railway has begun, while cargo flow along the Uzbekistan — Turkmenistan — Iran — Turkey transport corridor has significantly increased.
President Mirziyoyev advocated for accelerated development of the Uzbekistan — Afghanistan — Pakistan railway project, noting that connecting this promising corridor with the under-construction China — Kyrgyzstan — Uzbekistan railway line would open vast opportunities for creating new trade and economic space with sustainable transport infrastructure across the broader region. The country also prioritizes development of the Middle Corridor, emphasizing the need for coordinated transit policies, unified regulations, and optimal tariffs for container freight transportation.
Institutional framework and investment initiatives
Uzbekistan proposed establishing a global agreement on transit guarantees for landlocked countries under UN auspices. “Such a mechanism will ensure conditions for fair access to ports and communications, reduce shipping risks, and serve to reduce inequality in global logistics,” President Mirziyoyev emphasized. The initiative aims to create institutional guarantees that would protect landlocked nations from arbitrary policy changes by transit countries.
Addressing the massive funding gap, the Uzbek leader noted that Central Asian countries’ transport infrastructure investment needs are estimated at nearly $40 billion annually. To tackle this challenge, he proposed creating a Fund for Promoting Logistics Integration of Landlocked Countries under UN auspices, which would broadly attract resources from donor countries, international development institutions, and global programs.
Additionally, Uzbekistan initiated the development of a Global Vulnerability Index for landlocked countries. “It will become an effective tool for objectively determining the limitations of our countries’ capabilities in the field of transit, expanding international financial and technical programs, and efficiently distributing resources taking into account real conditions,” President Mirziyoyev stated. “Most importantly, this index should be taken into account when fairly assessing the competitiveness and business climate of our countries.”
Innovation and knowledge exchange platforms
Beyond transport infrastructure, Uzbekistan proposed establishing an innovative hub for agricultural sector development on its territory. This facility is expected to promote adaptive agricultural technologies, advance innovative water-saving projects, ensure food security, and facilitate knowledge and experience exchange among landlocked nations.
The President also emphasized the importance of engaging leading experts and think tanks from landlocked countries in developing specific proposals for jointly overcoming common challenges. He suggested organizing international forums and roundtables addressing deep integration into global production chains, accelerated development of artificial intelligence and digital technologies, expanded cross-border investment, and startup support. “The agenda of such events could include issues of ensuring deep integration of our countries into global production chains, accelerated development of artificial intelligence and digital technologies, expansion of cross-border investment, and support for startups,” he noted.
This comprehensive approach to addressing landlocked countries’ challenges presents significant opportunities for international businesses across multiple sectors. For companies in construction, logistics, and manufacturing, the proposed infrastructure projects — particularly the multi-billion dollar railway initiatives and port connectivity improvements — represent substantial market entry points and partnership opportunities. The establishment of standardized transit procedures and reduced logistics costs could dramatically improve supply chain efficiency for international furniture and interior brands looking to penetrate Central Asian markets. Moreover, the proposed investment fund and institutional frameworks signal strong governmental commitment to creating stable, predictable business environments that would benefit foreign investors in infrastructure, technology, and manufacturing sectors. The focus on digital transformation and innovation hubs also opens doors for technology companies and modern manufacturing solutions, while the emphasis on fair market access and reduced regulatory barriers creates more favorable conditions for international trade expansion in the region.
