The Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) Program launched a railway strategy until 2030 that serves as a guiding document for the long-term development of railways in the region. The strategy was jointly developed by CAREC country representatives in cooperation with development partners, railway operators, stakeholders and experts. The strategy equips the region’s railways to better capture evolving trade flows and contribute to regional economic development.
The vision envisages that the railway transport should become a mode of choice for trade and, under the strategic priorities, CAREC proposes the development of an effective rail infrastructure, of robust commercial capabilities and the improvement of legal and regulatory frameworks.
Full implementation of the railway strategy requires a set of robust arrangements addressing money (financing), people (capacity), and technology with distinct roles identified for railways, governments and development partners. An action plan and corresponding results-based framework is being developed and will be subject to periodic monitoring, review, and adjustments.
Since 2001, more than USD 22.5 billion has been invested in 116 CAREC-related transport projects along the six CAREC corridor routes. As of September 2016, 59 projects were ongoing.
Priority infrastructure work along the six corridors is now focused on the construction and upgrade of roads and rail lines. The aim is to create a seamless transport network by 2020.
By 2020, CAREC goals on railway transport involve the completion of 1800 new railways, the modernisation and electrification of 2000 km of railways.
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