(MENAFN- Trend News Agency) BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 10. trend news agency presents an overview of the most important events in 2022 in the
transport sector of Tajikistan.
In this year, Tajikistan continued taking steps to integrate
modern technologies into the development of its transport system.
For instance, in August of this year, the Minister of Transport of
Tajikistan Azim Ibrohim chaired a conference called 'Accelerate
digitalization to improve transit and simplify the business
process.' Representatives from 32 countries and 30 international
organizations took part in the conference. The digitalization of
the transport process has become one of the key topics for
discussion.
Modernization of the segment and the introduction of modern
technologies are required for Tajikistan's transport industry's
development. There are currently several taxi services in
Tajikistan that allow people to order a car via apps or by calling
the operator, such as: Somon Taxi, Rakhsh, and Asia Express, but
their interface, number of available cars, and delivery speed are
still far behind their international competitors, such as the Uber
platform.
Therefore, the benefits of integrating modern technologies into
the development of transport systems are currently being actively
studied by the government of Tajikistan. Tajikistan's Ministry of
Transport is working on the coordination of the relevant
digitalization project. The project will be available in the public
domain immediately after its approval.
Ratification of agreement on cooperation in field of
railway with Turkmenistan
Tajikistan's House of Representatives has ratified an agreement
with Turkmenistan on cooperation in the field of railway transport
in January 2022.
The agreement signed in Ashgabat on August 4, 2021, following
the high level talks, regulates direct international rail traffic
between Turkmenistan and Tajikistan and defines uniform legal norms
in direct international rail traffic.
The railway communication between the two countries extends all
the way to the International Port of Turkmenbashi on the Caspian
Sea's shores. Access to the Caspian Sea will aid Tajikistan's
efforts to establish transportation links with Europe in this
field.
The agreement also contributes to the strengthening of bilateral
cooperation, an increase in trade between the two countries, the
use of transit railways and the Turkmen port of Turkmenbashi across
the Caspian Sea to access the railways of European countries
Tajikistan signs protocol on transport cooperation with
Belarus
A protocol on transport cooperation between the two countries
was signed on the sidelines of the Tajikistan-Belarus joint
commission on road transport, on November 29-30, 2022.
During the meeting, it was emphasized that bilateral cooperation
in the field of international road transport between Tajikistan and
Belarus has significant potential for further development.
Despite the new challenges, the volume of cargo transportation
between the two countries has increased from January through
November 2022 compared to 2020. Taking into account the increase in
the volume of cargo transportation by road transport and the needs
of carriers of both countries, the parties agreed to increase the
exchange of transportation permits for 2023.
Furthermore, the parties agreed to create favorable conditions
for the further development of international road transport between
the two countries.
Tajikistan and Chinese company sign contract for road
construction in Sughd region
Recently, the Ministry of Transport of Tajikistan has informed
that China Railway Wuju Group Corporation (CRWG) will build
highways in the northern region of Tajikistan.
During the meeting on November 25, Minister of Transport Azim
Ibrohim and the authorized representative of China Railway Wuju
Group Corporation (CRWG) Zhang Liang a contract for the
construction of roads in the Sughd region.
Within the framework of the fourth phase of the 'Program to
Improve Regional Communications in Central Asia', construction work
will be carried out on four sections of highways in the Sughd
region with a total length of 51.2 km: 'Kurush-Bekabad',
'Degmai-Bobojon Gafurov', 'Bobojon Gafurov-Khistevarz' and
'Kanibadam-Kuchkak'.
Ibrohim emphasized that more than 80 percent of the workers
involved in the implementation of the project should be made up of
local specialists.
In addition, under this project, 11 new bridges with a total
length of 444.2 meters will be constructed.
ADB provides grant to enhance road sustainability in
Southern Tajikistan
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) approved additional grant
financing of $43.2 million to scale up the safety and reliability
of the road network in southern Tajikistan in October 2022.
The additional grant will rehabilitate a 40-kilometer section of
road from Okmazor to Bokhtar in the populous Khatlon region in
southern Tajikistan. The design incorporates climate-resilient
features to protect the road from potential extreme weather and
renders it accessible year-round. It also includes safety features
to improve road users' safety and comfort.
Since Tajikistan joined the bank in 1998, ADB has provided
comprehensive assistance to the country's sector.
ADB assisted Tajikistan in rehabilitating over 700 km of key
road corridors in the country, piloting performance-based
maintenance, developing a road asset management system, improving
road safety, rehabilitating key border crossing points, and
developing a national single window system.
Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development to provide
Tajikistan with grant for reconstruction of two roads
In November 2022, it was reported that the Kuwait Fund for Arab
Economic Development will provide Tajikistan with a grant in the
amount of $800,000 for the reconstruction of two roads in the
Khatlon region.
The Majlisi Namayandagon Majlisi Oli (lower house of Parliament
of Tajikistan) ratified on November 2 a grant agreement between
Tajikistan and Kuwaiti Fund to finance the preparation of a
feasibility study for the reconstruction of the
Tugarak-Sarichashma-Shuroobod and Chashmasor-Langar highways in the
Vose' and Shamsiddin Shokhin districts of Khatlon region.
According to the Minister of Transport of Tajikistan Azim
Ibrohim, the implementation of this project is of social and
economic importance and contributes to an increase in vehicle
traffic and expansion of opportunities for the transportation of
goods and agricultural products to the markets of the region.