ADB eyes $50 million loan for regional border upgrades led by Azerbaijan

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is evaluating a potential loan to support the regional initiative "Borders Upgrades for Integration, Logistics, and Development Facility," in which Azerbaijan plays a central role as a leader in enhancing transit and border infrastructure.

The project spans Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Pakistan, China, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, with Azerbaijan’s experience in digitising customs processes, modernising border crossings, and developing international transport corridors serving as a model for other participating nations, Caliber.Az reports via ADB.

The total estimated cost of the project is $50 million, with financing expected to come from ADB’s capital resources. Project concept approval is anticipated on November 26, 2027, while final loan approval is scheduled for 2028.

Azerbaijan has been a member of ADB since 1999, during which time the bank has invested approximately $5.6 billion in the country, including $4.4 billion in the public sector and $1.2 billion in the private sector. The largest areas of financing have been transport, totaling $1.5 billion, and energy, amounting to $1.7 billion.

Under its new partnership strategy, ADB is prepared to invest up to $2.5 billion in Azerbaijan. Established in 1966 and headquartered in Manila, ADB unites 69 member countries, 50 of which are from the Asia-Pacific region.

By Jeyhun Aghazada