Uzbekistan and the United Arab Emirates are developing railway connections through Afghanistan to speed up the delivery of Indian goods to Europe and diversify transport routes amid strong economic growth and rising investment
Uzbekistan’s Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade, Aziz Kadyrov, confirmed that his country is cooperating with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on the development of the Trans-Afghan Railway. He noted that the project offers an opportunity to connect South Asia with the Eurasian continent and transport goods from India to Europe approximately two weeks faster than via the current route.
Speaking at a panel discussion during the “Investopia Bridge 2026” event, held on Wednesday at the Park Hyatt hotel on Saadiyat Island in Abu Dhabi, he stated that Uzbekistan is working with its partners, including the UAE and France, on projects and initiatives aimed at diversifying trade routes and transport corridors. He expressed confidence that these efforts would succeed.
He also noted that approximately a year and a half ago, construction began in his country on a major railway line connecting China, Uzbekistan, and the member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). He explained that the project would reduce east–west freight transportation time by at least 10 days and save approximately 900 kilometres compared with the existing route.
He noted that over the past decade, Uzbekistan has attracted considerable interest from foreign investors due to the country’s stability, strong economy, and economic diversification. He emphasized that the average GDP growth rate exceeds 7%, reaching 7.7% last year and 8.5% in the first half of the current year. Furthermore, Uzbekistan’s GDP has doubled over the past nine years, and the country aims to double it once again by 2030. (WAM)