Published
12/05/2024, 14:21Eurasian Development Bank signed an agreement with the Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan to provide technical assistance for the feasibility study of the Bishkek - Kuntuu - Belogorka - Suusamyr highway project.
The EDB will allocate up to $200 thousand from the EDB's Technical Assistance Fund (TAF) to prepare a feasibility study aimed at improving regional transport connectivity and increasing the country's transit potential. The project is part of the Eurasian Transportation Framework initiative, which aims to integrate international transportation corridors.
“The construction of the Bishkek - Kuntuu - Belogorka - Suusamyr highway provides for strengthening the transport connectivity of the republic's economic centers, as well as increasing the transit potential of Kyrgyzstan's highways and the interest of neighboring countries in road transportation through Kyrgyzstan. To develop the Eurasian transport framework, the bank uses all the tools that modern development institutions can offer,” said EDB Chairman of the Board Nikolay Podguzov.
He emphasized that the concluded agreement on technical assistance is a vivid example of project initiation and support throughout the entire life cycle - from the generation of ideas and development of project initiatives to the actual implementation of the project.
The new highway route is of great strategic, economic and social importance for the Kyrgyz Republic. In addition to the positive impact on the development of transportation infrastructure, the project will increase the availability of mineral deposits and create new jobs both during the construction phase of the highway and during its operation.”
“The existing Bishkek-Osh highway is the main highway of the republic. The intensity of traffic on it averages from 5 to 18 thousand cars per day, and the highway can no longer cope with the growing flow. The public-private partnership project is designed to relieve the main transportation artery connecting Bishkek and Osh, the two largest cities in the country. It is also of strategic importance for the development of the economy and social sphere of the republic: the new road will be 164 km shorter than the current route, there will be an alternative route to the southern regions, and the developed fields will become much more accessible,” said Deputy Minister of Transport and Communications Bekzhan Rysmendeev.
In addition, the construction of the new highway will contribute to the development of international and domestic tourism and trade, the official said. Bus service will be launched, new jobs will appear both during the construction of the highway and during its operation.
