| Project Detail |
Project Name Preparing the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation Corridors 3 and 6 Turkistan Road Network Improvement Project
Project Number 54217-002
Country Kazakhstan
Project Status Active
Project Type / Modality of Assistance Technical Assistance
Source of Funding / Amount
TA 6538-KAZ: Preparing the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation Corridors 3 and 6 Turkistan Road Network Improvement Project
Technical Assistance Special Fund US$ 225,000.00
Strategic Agendas Environmentally sustainable growth
Inclusive economic growth
Regional integration
Drivers of Change Gender Equity and Mainstreaming
Governance and capacity development
Partnerships
Private sector development
Sector / Subsector
Transport / Road transport (non-urban)
Gender Equity and Mainstreaming Some gender elements
Description The technical assistance (TA) will support phase 1 of preparatory activities to help scope and structure the proposed Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) Corridors 3 and 6 Turkistan Road Network Improvement Project (the project). TA activities include: (i) preparing a strategic procurement plan and recommending a suitable contracting modality; (ii) reviewing the projects alignment; (iii) collecting initial environmental and social safeguards data and support draft safeguards documentation; and (iv) defining subsequent project activities, including the scope and financing modality of further project due diligence.
Project Rationale and Linkage to Country/Regional Strategy
Shymkent is Kazakhstans third largest city and has a population of about 1.0 million people in 2020; it is a major economic and transit hub at the heart of the Turkistan region, which sustains an additional 2.0 million people. Shymkent is the center of a radial network connecting three major agglomerations within a 2.5 hours and 180 kilometer (km) radius: (i) Taraz, Kazakhstans sixth largest city; (ii) Tashkent, Uzbekistans capital of 2.5 million people; and (iii) Turkistan city, the provincial capital of the Turkistan region and a prime tourist destination. About 273,000 people live in Turkistans district of Saryagash, which is the main gateway between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.
The project will improve the capacity, safety, and sustainability of major road links in Kazakhstans southern region of Turkistan, and enhance regional connectivity and trade with national and international markets. The project will primarily finance 102 km of a road bypassing the city of Saryagash, providing a high-capacity corridor for freight traffic presently traversing urban areas.
The project road is aligned with CAREC corridors 3 and 6, and will strengthen Kazakhstans role as a hub of major international transit routes. The project will thus support economic growth by (i) lowering transport costs and improving logistics efficiency; (ii) enhancing accessibility and trade to domestic and international markets, jobs, and services, (iii) supporting the development of global value chains, notably in non-oil sectors; and (iv) strengthening the sustainability of existing road assets, through the increased involvement of the private sector. |
