Chinese company to build Silkway Central Asia logistics center near Tashkent

The ambitious Silkway Central Asia multipurpose logistics center project has officially moved into its active implementation phase. On 3 March, Daniyar Tiesov, Director General of the joint venture, and Tian Zhenhua, Deputy Head of China Railway Construction Engineering Group (CRCEG) for Central Asia, signed an EPC (Engineering, Procurement, and Construction) contract for the "turnkey" development of the facility.

Photo: Silkway Central Asia

Under the terms of the agreement, the Chinese company will manage every stage of the project – from initial design and equipment procurement to the final construction of the container terminal and critical railway infrastructure, Spot reports.

The Director General of Silkway CA, Daniyar Tiesov, described the signing as a transition from strategic agreements to practical execution. "We are creating a modern logistics hub that will strengthen the transit potential of Central Asia and become an important link in Eurasian transport corridors," Tiesov stated. He emphasized that the project is a long-term investment in regional economic growth and international trade.

Tian Zhenhua characterized CRCEG’s involvement as a strategic partnership aimed at developing modern transport infrastructure. He committed to completing the works on schedule while adhering to international quality and technological standards.

The foundation for the Silkway Central Asia center was laid in November 2025 by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. The project is a joint venture between Uzbekistan Railways and the Kazakh transport firm PTC Holding, with a total planned investment of $300 million.

Located on a 159.4-hectare site in the Yangiyul district, the hub will serve as a vital connection point between Kazakhstan, the Fergana Valley, and the Samarkand direction. The facility is set to include:

Warehousing: 167,000 sq. m of Class "A" and "B" warehouses.
Container yards: 172,000 sq. m of dedicated container space.
Railway infrastructure: Over 28 km of internal railway lines.
Additional facilities: An industrial zone, a trade and exhibition complex, hydraulic structures, and both road and railway overpasses.

Construction is scheduled to continue until 2030, though the first phase is expected to be operational by early 2027. Once fully functional, the logistics center will have the capacity to process up to 350,000 TEU (twenty-foot equivalent units) annually. By 2035, the hub's throughput is projected to reach 3 million tons of cargo per year.