Azerbaijan's investment in Eurasian Transport Framework rises nearly 62%

Azerbaijan's investment in the development of the Eurasian Transport Framework (ETF) reached $3.4 billion as of July 1, 2026, marking a 61.9% increase compared with a year earlier, according to the Eurasian Development Bank's Transport Projects Observatory.

The observatory said the ETF transport projects platform currently includes 402 active and planned projects with a combined investment value of $345 billion, Caliber.Az reports, citing local media.

An additional $100 billion worth of projects is expected to be launched in the future.

During 2025, transport infrastructure projects worth $10 billion were commissioned, while the project portfolio expanded with 70 new initiatives valued at $74 billion.

The Observatory covers 13 countries: Azerbaijan, Armenia, Afghanistan, Belarus, Georgia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.

Central Asian countries account for more than 21% of total investment, or $71.8 billion across 114 projects. More than 45% of that amount is invested in Kazakhstan, while nearly 56% is directed toward road infrastructure, underscoring the importance of road transport for regional trade and international transit. Another 29.8% is allocated to the development of railway sections along transport corridors crossing Central Asia.

Transport infrastructure projects worth $6 billion were commissioned in the region during 2025 alone.

By sector, railways account for the largest share of investment in the Eurasian Transport Framework, representing 42.8%, or $147.4 billion. By country, Russia accounts for the largest share, attracting 65.3% of total investment, or $225.2 billion. Eight of the ten largest infrastructure projects within the framework are being implemented in Russia.

The Northern Eurasian Corridor remains the most capital-intensive component of the network, with total investment estimated at $84.8 billion, accounting for more than a quarter of all capital expenditure across the Eurasian Transport Framework. Investment in the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) was estimated at $52.8 billion in 2025, excluding the Moscow–St. Petersburg high-speed railway.

The modernisation of Russia's Eastern Railway Polygon is the single largest investment project within the framework.

Private capital is involved in 123 projects, nearly half of them related to warehousing and logistics infrastructure. A further 27 projects could be implemented through public-private partnerships (PPPs).

International development banks are also increasing their involvement, participating in 48 projects, while another 29 initiatives are expected to receive financing with their support.

China is also expanding its role in Central Asia's transport infrastructure, participating in more than 20 projects with funding from Chinese sources exceeding $7 billion.

More than 62% of all Eurasian Transport Framework projects by investment value are currently under implementation. Another 8.8% are in the project documentation stage, while 29% remain in the planning phase.

In Central Asia, the largest share of investment—$42.8 billion—is allocated to sections of the TRACECA corridor, including the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (Middle Corridor).

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov