Uzbekistan Quality Job Creation as a Cornerstone for Sustainable Economic Growth

Boosting Infrastructure’s Contribution to Sustainable Growth
The Uzbekistan government recognizes that public infrastructure must be 
improved if the country is to maintain rapid economic growth over the longer 
term. The government also sees that good public infrastructure enhances 
competitiveness, supports industrialization and urbanization, and improves 
value chains for farmers. Also, living conditions would improve directly 
because of expanding infrastructure jobs and then indirectly by making other 
employment more accessible. 
As the economy moves toward upper-middle-income status, the demand for 
transport facilities will grow strongly. Satisfying that demand requires improved 
road, rail, and air transport infrastructure; logistics centers; and cross-border 
transport procedures. Greater investment is needed to allow trade to grow and 
take advantage of the country’s geographical position as a center of commerce 
in Central Asia and as a key transit country. 
Roads provide the dominant mode of transport for domestic passengers 
and short-haul cargo. The road network has improved significantly in recent 
years, enhancing access throughout the country and facilitating the transport 
of goods by truck. However, even new roads soon suffer from insufficient 
funds for periodic routine maintenance. The backlog of rehabilitation and 
reconstruction work may eventually result in roads being unable to cope with 
the increased traffic volumes. 
As a double-landlocked country, long-distance rail transport has been the main 
mode of moving freight in and out of the country, exploiting the expanding 
international railway corridors in the region. Outdated locomotive stock means 
there have been inefficiencies in both cargo and passenger rail transit, but the 
gradual replacement of old stock is easing that constraint. By contrast, the 
country’s air network is among the best in Central Asia. Air transport currently