Improving connectivity in the Kyrgyz Republic

The Kyrgyz Republic will benefit from improved transportation links thanks to the reconstruction of the Suusamyr- Talas-Taraz road with the help of a US$15 million loan by the OPEC Fund. The project, jointly financed with the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) and the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD), will improve regional connectivity and integration in Central Asia.  

OPEC Fund Director-General Abdulhamid Alkhalifa said: “The upgraded road will support regional trade and the development of tourism. It will contribute to socio-economic progress in the Kyrgyz Republic and the Eurasia region.”  

The Suusamyr-Talas-Taraz road is nearly 200 km long and crosses the country from east to west. Once the final 83 km is complete, access to neighboring Kazakhstan will be vastly improved, creating potential new markets for more than 270,000 inhabitants of the region who mostly work in agriculture and light industry.  

Improved connectivity facilitates the movement of goods, services and people, boosting trade and tourism, creating jobs and increasing economic growth. In addition, efficient transportation infrastructure can enhance access to basic services such as healthcare, education and emergency services, improving people’s lives.  

The Kyrgyz Republic has defined improving connectivity and transportation as one of its priorities in its National Development Strategy (2018-2040). As a landlocked country, the Kyrgyz Republic heavily relies on road and air transportation to connect externally and to link its various regions with each other.  

The OPEC Fund has supported projects in the Kyrgyz Republic since 1997 with loans and grants for the transportation, education, health and agriculture sectors. To date, the OPEC Fund has provided close to US$50 million to the country’s private sector.