There is a significant deficit in the development of railway infrastructure in Central Asia. The total length of railways in the countries of the region is about 45 thousand kilometers. In comparison, this figure exceeds 130 thousand kilometers in India and reaches 150 thousand in the USA. This data was presented at the B5+1 business forum held in Bishkek by the General Director of Wabtec Kazakhstan, Gaini Duyssenova.
The expert noted that nearly 70% of all cargo transportation in the region over the past five years has been carried out by railways, yet the existing infrastructure requires immediate modernization.
"Investments in the modernization of the railway sector, updating rolling stock, and constructing new lines are critically needed. Our company has been operating in this region for 20 years, and we see that expanding railway transportation has become an urgent necessity," emphasized Gaini Duyssenova.
Experts in logistics and marketing also confirm this viewpoint. They point out that the lack of a developed railway network is one of the main factors contributing to the rise in agricultural prices in Kyrgyzstan. Improving transport infrastructure could significantly reduce costs and, consequently, lower food prices.
