the challenges facing landlocked developing countries: a case study ...

KYRGYZSTAN
Over 3600 km from the nearest open seas port, Kyrgyzstan is
the second most remote of all landlocked countries (after
Kazakhstan). Its extreme average elevation of 2,750m, with
40% of its territory over 3,000m, further exacerbates the
transit challenges it faces. Moreover, ongoing regional
instability and border disputes with neighboring China,
Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan have resulted in sporadic border
closures, and have prevented the effective implementation of
any multilateral agreements. And while it is slowly changing,
Kyrgyzstan’s transportation network is primarily the remnant
of the Soviet system, and does not reflect the changing nature
of the Kyrgyz economy and its trade patterns.
There are six international routes from Kyrgyzstan. The most
important of these are two routes to Kazakhstan and one to
Uzbekistan. Terrain and mediocre infrastructure levels,
however, limit the efficiency of these routes. Corridors to
China and Tajikistan are very difficult to traverse and are
closed in winter.
To deal with these transit trade challenges, Kyrgyzstan has
avidly pursued a democratized liberal market economy, and
boasts one of the most liberal trade regimes amongst the
former Soviet states. As of December 2002, Kyrgyzstan was
still the only CIS state to gain accession into the WTO.
Kyrgyzstan has also been relatively successful in diversifying
its economy –its newly developed gold mining sector as well
as its services sector now contribute 30% of GDP. Its
dependence on fuel imports, however, has been a significant
constraint to development.
BASIC INFORMATION
HDI Rank: 102
GDP per capita
2000 (PPP$): $2,711
Exports per capita
2000 (current USD): $117
Distance to port:
Transport cost ratio: 0.13
3,600km
Neighbors:
China, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan,
Uzbekistan
Primary transit neighbors:
Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan
Main trading partners:
Imports: Russia (18%),
Kazakhstan (18%)
Exports: Switzerland (26%),
Germany (20%)
Primary Exports:
Non-ferrous metallurgy (47%)
Electricity (16%)
Domestic Roads: poor
Transit Country Roads: poor
Domestic Rails:
Transit Country Rails:
poor
fair
Transit Country Ports: good
TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE
Neighboring Civil Conflict:
moderate
Relations w/ Neighbors: fair
Road
While the Asian Highway connects Kyrgyzstan to neighboring
Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and China, most of these international corridors have
presented significant challenges. First, the primary road to Tajikistan is not an all weather
route, and is often rendered impassable during the harsh winter months of November-
February. Transit is further complicated by tensions with Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, and
disputed boundaries between the countries. From October-December 2002 Tajikistan erected
an ad hoc border post to harass Kyrgyz travelers. In retaliation, Kyrgyzstan set up a similar
post.
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