Eight countries signed an agreement at the weekend to spend $19 billion (lidt over 97 mia. d. kr.) on roads and railways running through central Asia to revive and expand the ancient Silk Road that connected China and Europe.
The modern version is expected to include north-south routes throughout the region that will connect Russia to south Asia and the Middle East.
Work is expected to start next year on developing six road-rail corridors and finish by 2018.
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is backing the plan, along with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the Islamic Development Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the UN Development Program, and the World Bank.
These multilateral institutions are expected to fund just under half of the entire project.
ARGUMENTET FOR IVESTERINGEN
Even though Central Asia lies at the center of the Eurasian continent, less than 1 percent of all trade between Europe and Asia currently goes through the region.
Inadequate transport infrastructure and cumbersome (besværlige, red.) border processes have resulted in nearly all trade going by sea.
Kilde: www.worldbank.org
