Partnership in the transportation and transit sector has become a cornerstone of cooperation among Turkic countries

In rapidly changing global economies, transport and logistics are becoming more than just infrastructure elements, but crucial instruments of economic and geopolitical influence. Against this backdrop, the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) is gradually emerging as one of the most promising platforms for regional cooperation in Eurasia. The development of transport and transit links, which are now forming the foundation for the economic integration of the Turkic countries, holds a special place in the Organization’s activities.

In this regard, the informal summit of the OTS, which will take place on May 14-15 this year in Turkestan (Republic of Kazakhstan), will be a positive step toward further strengthening the Organization’s position, deepening cooperation, and uniting the efforts of all Turkic states.

Transport as the basis of a new Eurasian architecture

Today, the member states of the OTS interact in more than 40 areas – from economics and energy to digital technologies and artificial intelligence. However, the transport sector is gradually becoming the main driver of integration.

This is due to the unique geographical location of the Turkic countries. The region lies at the intersection of major international routes connecting Europe, Central Asia, China, the Middle East, and South Asia. A new Eurasian logistics system is emerging, in which the OTS’s member states play a key role as a link between East and West.

Amid the transformation of global supply chains and intensifying competition among international transport routes, the states of the region are striving not only to strengthen their own infrastructure but also to create a unified transit and logistics space.

Formation of a common transport policy

In recent years, a solid legal framework has been established within the OTS, enshrining the strategic importance of this area in documents such as Turkic Vision 2040 and OTS Strategy for 2022-2026.

The 2022 Samarkand Summit was particularly significant, as it saw the signing of the Agreement on International Combined Freight Transport among the Governments of the Member States of the OTS, as well as the Transport Connectivity Program. These documents ushered in a new era of cooperation among Turkic countries and established specific mechanisms for their implementation.

An important step was the introduction of the e-CMR system in 2026, which enables the electronic transfer of transport documentation. This significantly simplifies transportation, reduces bureaucratic procedures, and expedites the movement of goods across state borders. At the same time, cooperation is advancing in the digitalization of customs processes, the implementation of electronic permits, and the unification of transit procedures.

Institutional strengthening of cooperation

In recent years, the OTS has been steadily developing an institutional framework for transport integration, shifting cooperation from a political and declarative level to a practical one. Regular meetings of the competent authorities of the Organization’s member states play a key role in this process.

At the April 2026 meeting of OTS Transport ministers in Bishkek, the focus was on developing transport corridors and removing border crossing barriers. Essentially, this aims to create a more coordinated regional transport system that can increase the competitiveness of OTS routes amid growing freight flows between Asia and Europe.

Meetings of heads of railway administration, held since 2022, serve a similar function. At the October 2025 meeting in Bishkek, issues such as the digitalization of transportation management and the improvement of rail service efficiency were discussed. This demonstrates the OTS countries’ desire to unify transport procedures and reduce logistics costs within the region. 

An additional step toward institutionalization was the creation of the Alliance of Logistics Centers and Cargo Carriers within the OTS in Tashkent in 2024. The establishment of this structure signals a shift toward greater business involvement in transport integration.

Transport corridors as a strategic basis for the integration of OTS countries

One of the key areas of the OTS’s transport strategy is the creation of a unified transport connectivity space, centered on developing international corridors linking East and West, and North and South Eurasia.

The Middle Corridor, connecting China and Europe via Central Asia and the South Caucasus, is particularly important in this system. Amid the transformation of global logistics, geopolitical instability, and states’ desire to diversify trade routes, this corridor is becoming one of the most promising transport arteries in Eurasia.

While the volume of traffic along this route remained relatively limited in 2020, by 2025 it exceeded 5 million tons, an increase of almost sixfold. This demonstrates the gradual transformation of the Middle Corridor from an alternative route into an important element of the global transport system.

Moreover, the corridor’s significance extends far beyond its role as a transit route. For the OTS’s member states, its development means strengthening trade and economic ties, expanding access to external markets, attracting investment, and increasing the resilience of national economies to external shocks. In the long term, the Middle Corridor is seen as the foundation for a new model of Eurasian connectivity.

A key element of this strategy is the implementation of the “China – Kyrgyzstan – Uzbekistan” railway project, already considered one of the most significant infrastructure projects in Central Asia. Construction of the highway, which includes 50 bridges and 29 tunnels and spans approximately 120 kilometers, is estimated to cost about $4.7 billion.

The project will significantly reduce freight delivery times between China and Europe, strengthen Central Asia’s transit potential, and enhance integration of the OTS’s transport system. Essentially, this will create a new strategic route capable of transforming the region’s logistics configuration.

Equally important is the development of the Trans-Afghan Corridor, which opens OTS countries to the markets of South Asia, with a population of approximately 1,9 billion and a combined GDP of approximately $3,5 trillion. For Central Asian states, this creates opportunities to diversify foreign trade, expand export routes, and reduce transportation costs. At the same time, the Trans-Afghan Corridor has the potential to contribute to the region's economic stabilization by boosting trade, investment, and industrial cooperation.

Uzbekistan as a driver of transport integration in the OTS

Since the Republic of Uzbekistan joined the Organization of Turkic States in 2019, transport and logistics cooperation has become a key focus of the country’s foreign economic strategy within the OTS. Amid the transformation of global supply chains, the growing importance of alternative Eurasian routes, and increased competition among international transport corridors, Tashkent has consistently promoted initiatives to create a unified transport and transit space for the OTS.

The initiatives of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, play a key role in advancing this agenda. He views transport connectivity as a key factor in regional integration and economic development. At the OTS summit in Türkiye in 2021, the Head of State emphasized the need for systemic cooperation in transport and transit, marking a shift toward a more comprehensive approach within the Organization. This agenda gained significant momentum at the 2022 Samarkand Summit, where Uzbekistan advocated for developing multimodal routes and implementing the e-TIR, e-Permit, and e-CMR electronic systems.

Uzbek logistics centers Universal Logistics Services (Tashkent), Akhtachy (Andijan), and Termez Cargo Center (Surkhandarya) joined the Sister Ports initiative, marking a practical step toward integrating Uzbekistan’s transport infrastructure into the regional logistics network.

At the 2023 summit in Astana, Uzbekistan, again emphasized diversifying transport routes and developing the Middle Corridor, which, in the current geo-economic environment, is acquiring strategic significance as a prospective route between Asia and Europe. At the same time, Tashkent promoted the expansion of transport routes connecting OTS countries with the markets of China, South Asia, and Europe.

A logical continuation of this line of action was the initiatives announced at the OTS summit in Bishkek in November 2024. The focus was on optimizing transit tariffs, simplifying border procedures, establishing joint logistics mechanisms, and transitioning to electronic document management.

In May 2025, at the informal OTS summit in Hungary, Uzbekistan supported the accelerated implementation of “single-window” systems and “green corridors” along the Trans-Caspian route. At the summit in Gabala in November 2025, special attention was paid to enhancing the competitiveness of the Middle Corridor, modernizing infrastructure, and related areas. Particular importance was placed on linking this route with the “China – Kyrgyzstan – Uzbekistan” railway project and the Trans-Afghan Corridor, which together create a new system of transport connectivity across a vast region.

The International Forum on Multimodal Transportation, held in Tashkent on November 12, 2025, was a practical confirmation of Uzbekistan’s growing role in the OTS’s transport agenda. 

Overall, the Turkic countries are already demonstrating a willingness to move beyond partnership toward creating a unified, interconnected space. Joint infrastructure projects, the development of interregional corridors, the digitalization of logistics, and Uzbekistan’s active role in promoting these processes form the foundation of a new transport architecture within the OTS.

Sarvar Kamolov, 

Chief Research Fellow,

Institute for Strategic and Regional Studies under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan