The EU Delegation to Uzbekistan hosted a strategic roundtable for the private sector under the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor Coordination Platform, bringing together business leaders, international banks, and government officials to discuss opportunities in enhancing transport connectivity across the region.
The roundtable was attended by Peteris Ustubs, Director for Asia and Pacific at the European Commission Directorate General for International Partnerships, who underscored the importance of involving private stakeholders in the development of regional infrastructure.
“Uzbekistan occupies a central position on the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor, and the government has ambitious plans for expanding transport infrastructure,” Ustubs said. “The coordination of future investments needs the involvement of the private sector to succeed and this is why we are here today starting a dialogue with companies of the sector.”
Participants explored how public-private cooperation can accelerate investments in critical infrastructure projects such as multimodal logistics centers and warehousing facilities. The goal is to enhance Uzbekistan’s access to European and regional markets through more efficient trade routes, while reducing reliance on traditional transit corridors.
Bekzod Kholmatov, Head of the Centre for Studies of Transport and Logistics Issues at Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Transport, emphasized the mutual commitment of the EU and Uzbekistan to deepen cooperation.
“The Trans-Caspian route opens new opportunities for increased trade and investment cooperation. Today’s workshop is evidence that the EU and Uzbekistan want to work very closely with each other to advance this,” Kholmatov stated. “We want to make sure that this is not only a government-led effort, but also has the support of the private sector.”
The Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor is considered a strategic trade route connecting Central Asia to European markets via the Caspian Sea, the South Caucasus, and onward to Europe. The EU’s support for such initiatives is aligned with its broader commitment to sustainable connectivity and economic resilience in Central Asia.
