Azernews.Az

By Kamila Aliyeva

Uzbekistan plans to implement a project to build a new toll highway from Tashkent to Samarkand on the terms of a public-private partnership (PPP), Uzbek media outlets reported on September 12.

Recently, a working meeting to discuss the implementation of this project was held with consortium of Turkish companies Cengiz-Kolin-Kalyon at the State Investment Committee.

The representative of the Turkish contractors noted that the project will allow covering the distance from Tashkent to Samarkand in two hours. The construction of a toll road is tentatively scheduled for 2019-2020.

During the meeting, the parties agreed that when developing a new highway project it is necessary to take into account such requirements as ensuring the passage of the highway away from residential areas, minimal impact on pasture and agricultural areas and the state of the environment.

“The investment agreement on the construction of the highway on the principles of public-private partnership in cooperation with the Turkish consortium was included in the portfolio of projects submitted to Turkish investors and was signed during the official visit of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to Uzbekistan, held this spring,” the Uzbek State Committee for Investments noted.

The national partner of the project of the first toll highway is the State Committee for Roads.

At present, the law “On public-private partnership” is being worked out in the republic, which will provide a legislative foundation for projects of this kind. A public–private partnership is a cooperative agreement between two or more public and private sectors, typically of a long-term nature. PPP in its various forms is actively gaining popularity in many countries as a tool used to create new infrastructure and provide public services.

The consortium members are the largest companies in Turkey with more than 40 years of history. Cengiz - Kolin - Kalyon implements strategic projects in various industries and play a leading role in the development of Turkey.

In particular, they were engaged in the construction of infrastructure in the framework of the Ankara-Istanbul high-speed railway project, the third airport and the metro line in Istanbul and many others.

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Kamila Aliyeva is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Kami_Aliyeva

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