DUSHANBE, February 8, 2013, Asia-Plus — The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has initiated a mid-term review of the 10-year Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) Transport and Trade Facilitation Strategy, which focuses on developing safe transport systems and a seamless network of six transport corridors, making it easier for people and goods to move across borders, press release issued by ADB Tajik Resident Mission (TJRM) on February 8 said.
The strategy is now halfway through its implementation. As of September 2012, about 51% of the total road sections had been completed, 44% are ongoing, and the rest (5%) are planned in 2013 or beyond.
On railways, about 44% of the total had been completed, 34% are ongoing, and the remaining 22% are planned in 2013 or beyond. Fifteen projects in aviation, ports, logistics centers, and trade facilitation are also underway. Tajikistan benefits from the strategy with four of the six CAREC transport corridors passing through the country.
“This review provides us a good opportunity to look at what we have achieved so far, and incorporate any lessons learned to ensure that the strategy remains relevant and effective in the context of major global and regional developments,” said C.C. Yu, ADB’s Country Director for Tajikistan. “The strategy is expected to be updated and endorsed by CAREC countries later this year.”
CAREC promotes project-based cooperation in transport, energy, and trade. The CAREC partnership comprises 10 countries — Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, the People’s Republic of China, Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Mongolia, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan — and six multilateral institutions: ADB, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, International Monetary Fund, Islamic Development Bank, United Nations Development Program, and World Bank. ADB has served as the CAREC Secretariat since 2001.
Tajikistan joined ADB in 1998, and to date the institution has cumulatively approved a total assistance of more than $966 million in concessional loans, grants and technical assistance to the country. ADB’s operations benefit the population by reducing isolation, increasing communication, broadening access to electricity, improving social services, and creating more income-generating opportunities.
