DUSHANBE, 08.08.2025 (NIAT Khovar) – Tajikistan aims to become a reliable transit hub in the region, said Tajikistan’s Minister of Transport Azim Ibrohim on August 7 during a parallel session entitled “Sustainable Transport for LLDCs: Potential for South-South Cooperation” at the Third UN Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries in Avaza (Turkmenistan).

According to him, this aspiration opens up significant opportunities for strengthening ties between East and West, North and South: from the Caspian Sea to China and Mongolia, from Russia to Afghanistan and Iran.

It was noted that, despite a number of existing problems, developing landlocked countries have solid potential for economic growth, including rich natural and labor resources. This increases investor interest and creates favorable conditions for the integration of landlocked developing countries into the global economy.

Azim Ibrohim noted that the development of a sustainable, inclusive, and safe transport system remains one of the most important priorities of Tajikistan’s national policy, which is clearly reflected in the National Development Strategy of the Republic of Tajikistan until 2030.

According to him, none of the five Central Asian countries has access to the sea, which makes it particularly important to ensure effective land connectivity across the entire region.

The head of Tajikistan’s Ministry of Transport confirmed that developing countries without access to the sea face a number of challenges due to their geography, including remoteness from markets, high trade costs, and long transport times. All of this hinders economic potential and limits integration into international value chains.

«Landlocked developing countries need smart logistics solutions, digitization of border processes, support in increasing investment in transport infrastructure modernization, and closer partnership with transit countries» — he said.

The minister particularly emphasized the importance of finding alternative routes that allow access to ports and global markets with minimal logistics costs and risks.

“There is a phrase: ‘Making logistics simple in a complicated world’. It is precisely this simplification of logistics and optimisation of logistics chains that is one of the most key factors for success in a highly competitive global economy” — he added.