HSR Webinar Series: Policy Considerations for National HSR Network Development – Cases in Uzbekistan

Why It Matters

Uzbekistan’s high‑speed rail strategy demonstrates how developing nations can achieve modern connectivity through external technology and financing, shaping regional trade dynamics and informing policy across Asia.

Key Takeaways

• Uzbekistan leverages foreign tech and aid to build high‑speed rail.
• Financing hinges on ODA, PPPs, and multilateral loans.
• Institutional coordination critical for operation and maintenance of railways.
• Lessons from Italy, China, Spain guide developing‑country strategies.
• Regional connectivity boosts trade corridors linking China to Europe.

Summary

The Asian Development Bank Institute hosted the fourth webinar in its high‑speed rail series, turning its focus to Uzbekistan’s emerging national network. Participants from across Asia examined how the land‑locked country is upgrading Soviet‑era corridors with imported technology, leveraging official development assistance and multilateral financing to jump‑start high‑speed service. Key insights highlighted the reliance on foreign technology—Spain’s Talgo trains launched the Afro service in 2011 and recent Korean transfers are expanding capacity—while financing models emphasized public‑private partnerships, ODA, and loan structures that mitigate fiscal risk. Institutional arrangements for operation and maintenance were discussed, stressing the need for coordinated ministries, state rail operators, and international partners to ensure long‑term sustainability. Speakers such as Professor Richard Palford traced Uzbekistan’s rail legacy from Soviet roots to today’s modern upgrades, and Professor Naoyuki Yoshino detailed financing mechanisms drawn from broader Asian experience. Deputy Minister Umid Abide Zajay underscored the strategic importance of the “middle corridor” linking China to Europe, echoing Indonesia’s recent high‑speed rollout as a comparable pathway for developing economies. The webinar’s implications are clear: Uzbekistan’s model offers a blueprint for other developing Asian nations seeking rapid connectivity without domestic industrial capacity. By aligning technology imports, diversified financing, and robust institutional frameworks, countries can accelerate regional trade, attract investment, and integrate into trans‑Eurasian corridors.

Original Description

11:26 – 17:56 - Opening Remarks (Bambang Brodjonegoro, Dean and CEO, Asian Development Bank Institute)

18:39 – 22:36 - Opening Remarks (Umid Abidxadjayev, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Economic and Finance, Republic of Uzbekistan)

8:09 – 41:36 - Session 1: Historical Background of HSR Development in Uzbekistan

55:52 – 1:07:32 - Session 2: Challenges and Issues in Financing HSR in Uzbekistan

1:23:28 – 1:39:11 - Session 3: Institutional Arrangements for Operation and Maintenance of HSR in Uzbekistan (in Russian)

1:48:59 – 2:00:55 - Concluding Session: Lessons for Developing Asia

2:01:57 – 2:08:50 - Special Comments

2:09:09 – 2:28:37 - Panel Discussion & Open Discussion

2:28:39 – 2:29:51 - Closing Remarks