Boosting Eurasian connectivity, EDB has planned 325 projects worth an estimated $234 billion.
The Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) has launched the Transport Projects Observatory, a groundbreaking tool designed to monitor and coordinate over $234 billion in infrastructure investments across 13 countries in the Eurasian Transport Network (ETN). Based on open data sources, including national transport programs, press releases, and expert assessments, this platform provides transparency and real-time updates on project stages, fostering collaboration among governments, investors, and partners.
The Observatory, which is part of a broader effort to implement the ETN concept, promotes a network approach to transport development. With an interactive platform that includes a comprehensive database and geographic information system (GIS) map, it tracks 325 projects across 13 countries, facilitating transparency and multilateral coordination. This tool enables stakeholders to assess investment needs, monitor progress, and align national and international efforts to build efficient transport corridors, focusing on synergy between West–East and North–South transport axes to maximize connectivity and economic impact.
Boosting the number of investor-attractive projects, especially through Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs), is a key priority moving forward for the EDB. While specific details on private sector roles and PPPs are not explicitly given, their involvement is typically critical in infrastructure projects of such magnitude for financing, risk-sharing, and expertise. The emphasis on efficient transport links suggests a role for PPPs to foster innovation, reduce costs, and share risks between public authorities and private investors, which is common practice in large international infrastructure initiatives like the ETN.
The EDB's approach to infrastructure investment typically involves leveraging PPPs to mobilize additional funds and expertise. In fact, 113 of the 325 projects involve private sector participation, particularly in logistics and warehousing. The region's smaller economies, such as Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, and Armenia, incur substantial costs for developing transport corridors compared to their GDP, making PPPs an essential strategy for managing these investments.
The Eurasian Transport Network development in Central Asia is primarily focused on main road networks, accounting for roughly two-thirds of investments. Nearly 44% of these projects are in Kazakhstan, emphasizing the country's strategic role in regional transport connectivity. The EDB's 2022-2026 strategy focuses on three major projects: water and energy in Central Asia, the Eurasian Transport Network, and a regional commodity distribution system. The region's ten largest projects account for 58% of total Central Asian investments, with prominent projects including the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway, the Centre-West expressway in Kazakhstan, and several major highways in Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
Central Asian nations play a significant role in the ETN's expansion, accounting for 22% of total investments, or nearly $53 billion across 90 projects. This coordination platform enables the EDB and its member countries to monitor investment flows, ensure alignment of projects, and stimulate connectivity improvements across Eurasia by integrating public resources and private sector engagement.
References:
[1] Eurasian Development Bank. (n.d.). Transport Projects Observatory. Retrieved from https://www.edb.org/transport-projects-observatory
[2] Eurasian Development Bank. (n.d.). Eurasian Transport Network. Retrieved from https://www.edb.org/eurasian-transport-network
[3] Eurasian Development Bank. (n.d.). EDB's 2022–2026 Strategy. Retrieved from https://www.edb.org/strategy-2022-2026
[4] Eurasian Development Bank. (n.d.). Public-Private Partnerships. Retrieved from https://www.edb.org/public-private-partnerships
- The EDB's Transport Projects Observatory, a platform for monitoring infrastructure investments in the Eurasian Transport Network, offers insights into finance, business, and technology-related developments in the industry.
- The Observatory's real-time updates and interactive database facilitate collaboration among stakeholders, including governments, investors, and the general news media, thereby bridging lifestyle and education-and-self-development aspects.
- Sports enthusiasts might find interest in the region's infrastructure initiatives, as efficient transport corridors could potentially reduce travel time and costs associated with hosting international events or participating in them.
- The involvement of the private sector, particularly through Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs), is crucial in the Eurasian Development Bank's strategy, offering potential opportunities for the technology and business sectors to contribute to the project's success.
