More than 48 billion manats were invested in the transport and communication sector of Turkmenistan from 2015 to 2021. This was stated by Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan Mammethan Chakyyev at the conference “Building Sustainable Infrastructure, Strengthening Ties and Promoting the development of unhindered transit systems for Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs)”. The conference was held on Thursday in Avaza as part of the Third UN Conference on LLDCs.

“Turkmenistan has a unique transit position between east and west, north and south. In this regard, the country’s transport and communication complex is a key factor in economic sustainability, regional integration and expansion of trade flows,” the Deputy Prime Minister said.

According to him, the most important international corridors pass through Turkmenistan: The Trans–Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), the North-South International Transport Corridor, the Caspian Corridor, the railway connection with Afghanistan, the potential China–Turkmenistan–Persian Gulf overland route, and others.

Chakyyev said that among the implemented projects are the Ashgabat–Turkmenabad highway, the construction of a bridge over the Garabogaz river in the direction of Kazakhstan, the modernization and expansion of the Turkmenbashi seaport, the reconstruction of the Turkmenbashi airport and the construction of a new Balkanabat International Airport, the integration of Turkmenistan with the Siyan–Tehran –India–Kazakhstan container transportation and others.

According to the Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers, a new logistics hub is being developed near Iran and Uzbekistan, and the Caspian transport and logistics platform is being developed jointly with the ports of Baku and Aktau.

“We consider it appropriate to create a single LLDC digital space with an integrated logistics platform compatible with electronic certification data and automated customs clearance,” he said.

Turkmenistan proposes the creation of regional funds for infrastructure and digital projects, the promotion of initiatives on the digital architecture of LLDCs, the formation of logistics clusters with the participation of the private sector, platforms for knowledge exchange, training specialists, and improving institutional competence. Chakyyev called on the partners to work together in two programs to further promote the interests of landlocked countries.