The role of transport corridors for the development of Central Asia

iIn recent decades, Central Asian states have become participants in various projects of international transport corridors. For the countries of the region, such projects are of significant interest, as they make it possible to overcome geographical remoteness from the main markets. Most of the logistical projects have been initiated by non-regional actors, which in turn are highly interested in Central Asia. The development and promotion of transport corridors have been determined primarily by long-term economic motives. For non-regional players, primarily the United States, the EU, China and Turkey, the major task has been to maintain the Central Asian states in the sphere of their interests. In recent years, international transport corridors have been supplemented by bilateral and multilateral mechanisms initiated by non-regional actors. They are aimed at forming sustainable political and economic relations with the Central Asian states. For regional countries, participation in international transport corridors provides an opportunity to receive revenues from the transit of goods passing through the region, and at the same time opens up new opportunities for organizing the export of their own products to foreign markets. In particular, the article provides an overview of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route. In addition to other logistical routes, this project attracts the attention of the EU and China, which expect to increase the supply of goods through it. A new direction in the policy of non-regional states towards Central Asia is gaining access to deposits of rare earth metals. A big role in the implementation of projects related to the development of deposits of rare earth metals and their export from the region is assigned to transport communications coming from the countries of Central Asia.