Advancing Road Asset Management: CAREC Institute and ADB Launch Workshop in Uzbekistan

The CAREC Institute, in collaboration with the Asian Development Bank, hosted a four-day workshop focused on Road Asset Management (RAM) for Uzbekistan. This significant event, held from September 3 to 6, 2024, marks the third round of specialized workshops for Uzbekistan following the CAREC Institute’s RAM maturity assessment conducted in 2021.

The workshop brought together a diverse group of participants, including senior national officials, esteemed road sector specialists, project lawyers, chief accountants from road divisions, and distinguished professors from Tashkent State University. This gathering underscored the critical role of effective Road Asset Management in advancing sustainable and efficient road infrastructure throughout the CAREC region.

Mr. Bakhodir Korabaev, Deputy Chair of the Transport Inspectorate at the Ministry of Transport of Uzbekistan, opened the workshop by highlighting the vital importance of RAM in enhancing road infrastructure. He emphasized that the collaborative efforts of the Central Asian countries help optimize resources, reduce costs, and improve the safety and connectivity of transport corridors, addressing both current and future needs.

Dr. Kuat Akizhanov, Deputy Director of the CAREC Institute, presented the CAREC Corridors Performance Measurement and Monitoring tool, which identifies delays and costs in transport corridors, offering insights to improve efficiency and regional transport operations.

Dr. Ilhom Abdulloev, Chief of the Capacity Building Division at the CAREC Institute, discussed the evolution of CAREC corridors into key economic routes driving regional growth. He highlighted the CAREC Strategy 2030’s role in fostering economic integration and outlined the Institute’s efforts in research and capacity-building to support regional competitiveness.

International experts, Dr. Ian Greenwood, Chartered Professional Engineer and Fellow of Engineers – New Zealand, and Dr. Theuns Henning, Senior Lecturer at the University of Auckland, shared their extensive experience in RAM implementation, data collection, management, and maintenance. Joining them for this workshop was Mr. Giorgi Japaridze, a RAM System Consultant from Georgia, who provided insights into best practices within the CAREC region.

Participants expressed their appreciation for the valuable insights gained from the workshop. Mr. Asror Usmonxodjayev, Leading Specialist from the Road Assets Department, Ministry of Transport of Uzbekistan, stated, “I am truly delighted that this workshop is taking place in Uzbekistan. It has provided us with crucial new information that is essential for our professional work. The presentations about RAM have been exceptionally informative and directly applicable to my daily tasks. The shared international experiences are incredibly valuable for advancing road asset development in Uzbekistan.”

The workshop concluded with discussions of participants, gathering their feedback on the regional RAM cooperation and its application to Uzbekistan’s road sector. The event successfully reinforced the shared commitment of CAREC countries to advancing road asset management practices, enhancing regional transport infrastructure and ultimately enhancing the quality of life for people in the region.