Infrastructure overhaul: Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan move to eliminate logistics bottlenecks

During a recent broadcast of the special project "President", Zhumangarin noted that export capabilities of both nations are limited by significant strain on existing infrastructure, particularly at the Tashkent hub and the Saryagash–Tashkent transit point. To alleviate this pressure, Kazakhstan has initiated the construction of a 103-kilometer bypass road around Saryagash. Furthermore, the completion of the Darbaza–Maktaaral railway line is expected to redirect approximately 20 million tons of cargo away from the congested Tashkent junction, creating a more efficient transit route.

A major development for regional trade this year is the start of the Beyneu–Saksaulsky highway project. This road is set to be a strategic asset for Uzbek exporters, as it will reduce the travel time from Uzbekistan to Kazakhstan’s Caspian Sea ports by three days. Additionally, the existing Kyzylorda–Aktobe highway is being expanded from a two-lane road into a four-lane, first-category motorway to handle higher traffic volumes.

These infrastructure concerns were a central theme during the recent working visit of Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to Bukhara. In high-level talks with President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, both leaders emphasized the urgent need to modernize border infrastructure and eliminate "bottlenecks" that prevent access to wider international markets.

As part of these joint efforts, border crossing capacities are being significantly increased. The Jibek Joly–Gishtkuprik checkpoint is scheduled to open in September 2026, with the capacity to handle 70,000 people and over 2,000 passenger vehicles every day.

Despite a 11.3% increase in trade turnover in 2025, reaching $4.69 billion, the growth rate between the two neighbors still trails behind that of Uzbekistan’s trade with China and Russia.