The shifting of logistics routes due to conflicts and border closures has already impacted transport costs for Uzbekistan, according to Shokhrukh Gulamov, acting deputy minister of investments, industry and trade, speaking at the Asian Development Bank (ADB) meeting in Samarkand.
During his speech at the ADB meeting, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev noted that changes in logistics corridors due to global conflicts and tensions have increased transport costs for Central Asian countries by up to 30%, with delivery times extending by several weeks.
Gulamov stated that the issue of rising transport costs is currently on the government's agenda. “This issue is indeed very urgent. Of course, as a government, we must think about price increases and are obliged to do so, because it affects everything,” he said.
The deputy minister emphasized that the 30% cost increase estimate depends on specific calculations and routes, but a comprehensive approach is needed. “What external factors are influencing these processes and price increases? You mentioned them yourself. These are the conflicts in the Middle East, in Iran. This is the closure of borders between Afghanistan and Pakistan,” Gulamov said.
He noted that these corridors remain available for Uzbekistan, but their use has become difficult. “These corridors exist, they have not disappeared anywhere. But today, due to certain circumstances, there are difficulties and obstacles. Considering the events in the Strait of Hormuz, there is a shift and transformation of cargo and transport flows to other directions,” the deputy minister stressed.
Gulamov highlighted the most sensitive goods, including food products, particularly meat. “Meat is the most sensitive position that the government is paying great attention to,” he said. To reduce delivery costs, importers of beef and mutton are compensated for 50% of air transportation expenses.
The deputy minister listed the main alternative routes currently in use or under consideration. The first is the western direction, or the Middle Corridor, via Kazakhstan, the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey, as well as through Turkmenistan to Azerbaijan. The second alternative route is through China. The third route passes through the Russian port of Nakhodka.
Transport Minister Ilkhom Makhkamov previously stated that Uzbekistan's external transportation is carried out via nine international corridors. One of the main ones is the southern corridor through Iranian seaports. In case of difficulties on the Iranian route, the government has considered redirecting cargo through Pakistani seaports, the Middle Corridor, as well as through Georgia, Russia and Kazakhstan.
Source: www.gazeta.uz