- ADB is helping Tajikistan to improve roads and cross border facilities for better movement of people, goods, and services.
- For landlocked Tajikistan, connectivity with neighboring countries is essential for economic growth.
- ADB and Tajikistan are working together to strengthen the country’s transport network and foster regional transit and trade.
For landlocked Tajikistan, connectivity with neighboring countries is essential for economic growth. However, the country’s geographical constraints such as mountainous terrain, severe climatic conditions, and remoteness from international seaports and markets are a challenge.
ADB has provided assistance of more than $700 million to improve over 700 kilometers of national highways, border crossing points, and develop the national single window in Tajikistan. These have contributed to the development of an efficient, safe, and sustainable transport network in the country and enhanced international and domestic connectivity.
Transcript
Dushanbe, Tajikistan
For landlocked Tajikistan, connectivity with neighboring countries is essential for economic growth.
But the country’s geographical constraints such as mountainous terrain, severe winters, and remoteness from international seaports and markets are a challenge.
Rika Idei
Transport Specialist
Asian Development Bank
“The Asian Development Bank started its assistance to the transport sector of Tajikistan in the late 1990s. To date, ADB has invested more than $700 million in the sector. The assistance has been provided mainly to roads which are the primary mode for domestic and international movement of people and goods, as well as to strengthen their border-crossing facilities and associated systems for facilitating regional trade.”
ADB has helped construct or rehabilitate more than 700 kilometers of national highways, helping develop an efficient, safe, and sustainable transport network connecting Tajikistanis to each other and the world.
Bakhtovar Azimurodov
Business owner
Panjakent
“There were many difficulties for the movement of people and transport. After the reconstruction of the Ayni-Panjakent highway, we began to move much faster and bring food products, the prices of goods are decreasing. If earlier it took us four hours to get from the Ayni post to Panjakent, now this trip takes an hour and a half. In general, the quality of life is improving.”
By supporting the national single window development and border crossing points improvement to facilitate cross-border trade and transport, ADB has helped Tajikistan boost regional cooperation and trade under the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation Program.
Makhfirat Sharipova
Business owner
Isfara
“It became easier for the citizens of the Kyrgyz Republic and Tajikistan to move back and forth.”
Talgat Burkanov
Truck driver
Kyrgyz Republic
“We hand over the documents to customs and weigh the goods. This procedure takes maximum of 10-15 minutes.”
The improvement of roads has opened up opportunities for nearby communities.
Rahim Bobozoda
First Deputy Minister of Transport
Tajikistan
“ADB had provided assistance to Tajikistan in strengthening international and domestic connectivity by constructing or rehabilitating major roads and their associated facilities, which eventually improve livelihoods of the communities along these road networks. That’s especially true for women, who were socioeconomically vulnerable before these projects, but have since learned to start their own businesses and now earn extra incomes to support their families.”
Savrinisso Ibodova
Business owner
Panjakent
“Thanks to the implementation of the Panjakent-Ayni road reconstruction project, the life of the people has improved. The number of customer service businesses has increased. Accordingly, the number of jobs for the population has increased. Women started doing business. Now we have tourists from Samarkand and Khujand.”
ADB will continue to help Tajikistan strengthen its transport network and foster regional transit and trade.
