Central Asia is facing a serious problem: the gap in the development of railway transportation between the countries of the region. Currently, the length of railways in these states is about 45 thousand kilometers. In comparison, in India, this figure exceeds 130 thousand kilometers, and in the USA — about 150 thousand. These figures were announced at the B5+1 business forum in Bishkek by the General Director of Wabtec Kazakhstan, Gaini Duyssenova.
According to Gaini Duyssenova, despite the fact that over the past five years, 70% of cargo in the region has been transported by rail, the infrastructure requires urgent modernization.
“It is necessary to invest in the renewal of railway infrastructure, as well as in the modernization of locomotives and wagons. The construction of new railways is also extremely important. We have been working in this region for 20 years and can clearly see how necessary it is to expand the railway transportation network,” she added.
Her opinion is shared by specialists in logistics and marketing. They note that the lack of a well-developed railway network is one of the main factors contributing to the rise in prices for agricultural products in Kyrgyzstan. Expanding the transport infrastructure could significantly reduce costs and, as a result, the final prices of food products.
