Uzbekistan is dynamically developing country and progressive growth of its economy requires anticipatory development of its transport and communication network.

Main directions of transport policy of Uzbekistan are integration into international transport communications, development of efficient international routes for transportation of foreign trade and transit goods, modernization of transport complex and raising of transit potential.

Further construction of motor and rail roads, renewal of rolling stock and electrifying of railways is of great importance for us.

In December 2010, the President of Uzbekistan issued Resolution On Rapid Development of Infrastructure of Transport and Communication Construction for 2011-2015, which will serve as a strong impact for further facilitation of development of transport sector of the country. The total amount of investments to be disbursed by 2015 is US$ 6.9 billion.

The above document envisages large scale construction and modernization of motor and rail roads, bridges, renewal of the fleet of the vehicles, railway locomotives and carriage fleet, purchase of new mid and long distance passenger air fleet manufactured by Boeing and Airbus.

Besides, by the end of 2011, the country intends to launch two Spanish high speed trains Talgo-250 which will travel between the cities of Uzbekistan in some sections reaching the speed of 250 km/h.

Railway transport

In transport complex of Uzbekistan, special role belongs to railway transport. Total cargo transportations through railways comprises about 70 million tons p.a. with more than 35% to be export- import and transit cargoes.

The total length of railways is more than 7,000 km, with 4,600 km to be the main trunk. For further development of railway complex, with phased approach, the country is constructing new railway sections, modernizing existing trunks, electrifying of railway lines, renewal of carriage fleet.

For the last several years, projects on construction of railway sections Navoi-Uchquduq-Sultanuizdag- Nukus with the total length of 341 km and Toshguzar-Boysun-Qumqurghon with total length of 220 km have been implemented step-by-step. These sections are supposed to ensure uninterrupted railway communication among Northern, Southern and Central regions of Uzbekistan.

Moreover, railway Toshguzar-Boysun-Qumqurghon provided direct access to Afghanistan.

Stabilizing of situation in Afghanistan would create realistic prerequisites for forming of entirely new Trans-Afghan transport route with access to the Iranian ports Bandar Abbas and Chakhbakhor, as well as to the Pakistani port Guadar.

Beginning for this was put by the construction and launch of the railway Khairaton-Mazari Sharif, which is the first in Afghanistan. Under the ADB financing, the State Joint Stock Railways Company Uzbekiston temir yullari acted as contractor for construction works of this road with length of 75km.

Today, Uzbekiston temir yullari is one of strong railway companies in CIS. The fleet of locomotives, cargo and passenger carriages, special construction machines and laboratory equipment, scientific base, labor potential and experience of construction works in various climate and geodesic environments allow the Company to perform as contractor on implementation on infrastructure projects not only within Uzbekistan, but also is quiet competitive for participation in international projects.

According to ADB experts, project on construction of Khairaton-Mazari Sharif railway appeared to be the most successful in the ADB history in co-relation of costs, implementation terms and the quality of the works. It should be noted, that the progress of construction was monitored by the international independent experts, which gave high evaluation to the quality of the work.

Motor transport and roads

As of today, the total length of the motor roads of Uzbekistan is 183,000 km (with 42,500 km of regular highways, including 3,200 km of international motorways).

Motor transport covers about 10% of foreign trade and 88% of domestic passenger and cargo transportations. An annual growth rate of volumes of motor transport services is 20%.

With aim at creation of unified national transport system through construction and renovation of motorways meeting international requirements and standards, in 2009, Uzbekistan issued National Highway Development Program, 2009-2014, implementation of which started earlier this year.

In the context of large scale program of construction of national highway, it's intended to renovate and construct motorways with total length of 1,501 km, including Uzbek section of trans-European highway Е-40, passing towards Beineu - Kungrad - Bukhoro - Navoi - Samarqand - Tashkent - Andijon, with total length of 1,139 km.

Logistic centers

This factor became one of the key factors, laying basis for the project of creation of large hub with international intermodal logistic centre on the base of the Navoi airport.

Navoi Airport, located in the centre of the country, on the crossroads of international inland and air corridors North-South and East-West, represents ideal regional centre for management of international freight flows.

10 capitals of different countries with total population of 90 million people are located in radius of 2,000 km from Navoi airport. Such location, which provides optimum access to the customers and partners, equal distance from large airports of the region creates environment for transforming Navoi airport into large regional hub for international cargo transportations.

The objective prerequisites for achieving this goal are sufficient. Projections state that by 2015, transportations within Eurasian area will increase 2.4 times vs 2006, while transit of cargo transportations will increase 4 times.

In 2001-2006, air transport carried 3 million tons cargoes through Eurasian route p.a., which is 17% of all international air cargoes and 30 million people or 6% of all international passenger flow. Attraction of only 5% of cargo flows between Europe and Asia to the Navoi Airport could turn it into sub-regional hub

Use of air routes with landing in Navoi provides tangible saving in time and costs for transportation of cargoes. Thus, the distance from South-East Asia to Europe through Navoi is 1,000 km shorter than from Dubai. While time saving in air flight comprises 1.5 hour, fuel - 15 tons per airplane.

The most tangible benefit from using advantages of location of the Navoi airport could be received by Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Southern part of China, as well as the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, France and other European countries.

In direct proximity from airport pass international transport routes - Trans-European Highway E-40, connecting Paris with Beijing, railway with access in Western direction through Turkmenistan to the markets of the Middle East, Caucasus and Europe, in Eastern direction through Kazakhstan to China and other countries of Southeast Asia, in Northern direction through Kazakhstan and Russia to European countries, in Southern direction through Afghanistan to Pakistan and India.

At the moment, the National Air Company Uzbekistan Airways is flying from Navoi airport cargo flights to Bangkok (Thailand), Deli, Mumbai (India), Dakka (Bangladesh), Dubai (UAE), Istanbul (Turkey). In 2010, the Company launched flights of cargoes through the route Navoi-Frankfurt-Navoi, Navoi-Dubai- Navoi, Navoi-Istanbul-Navoi and Navoi-Bishkek-Navoi. Also, through this airport the aircompany KoreanAir is transporting cargoes through the routes Seoul-Navoi-Brussels, Seoul-Navoi-Vienna (Milano), Seoul-Shanghai Seoul-Shanghai-Navoi-Vienna and back.

Creation of intermodal logistic centre on the base of Navoi airport is practical example of organizing efficient mechanism of distribution of cargoes and services for the region on the basis of advanced international experience.

In 2009, in Angren, there was established Angren Logistic Centre. The main goal of the centre is accepting and handling of cargoes, as well as their delivery by trucks to Andijon, Namangan and Farghona provinces through mountain pass Qamchiq, thus providing reliable transport communication of Farghona valley with other regions of the country.

In 2010, through mountain pass Qamchiq was transported more than 4 million tons of cargoes, out of which 467,000 tons of cargoes was processed by the logistic centre.