CAREC Institute and ADB Held the Road Asset Management Workshop in Kazakhstan
The CAREC Institute, in partnership with the Asian Development Bank, organized a four-day workshop on Road Asset Management (RAM) for Kazakhstan from September 9 to 12, 2024. This event marked the third series of specialized workshops for Kazakhstan, following the CAREC Institute’s RAM maturity assessment conducted in 2021. The workshop attracted a diverse group of participants, including senior national officials, prominent road sector specialists, and experts from various divisions of the Ministry of Transport of Kazakhstan. Attendees expressed a keen interest in delving deeper into topics such as road safety, digitalization, and pricing in road construction. The workshop received positive feedback for its high quality, with suggestions for future events emphasizing the need to incorporate more practical elements and continue offering international perspectives.
Mr. Bakhtiyar Zhambyl, Chairman of the Committee for Roads of the Ministry of Transport of the Republic of Kazakhstan, delivered an opening speech emphasizing the significance of cultivating national expertise rooted in international best practices for the advancement of sustainable and efficient road infrastructure management in Kazakhstan. He noted that such knowledge would aid road authorities in optimizing resources, minimizing costs, and ultimately enhancing safety and connectivity—key factors in fostering economic development and regional integration.
Dr. Kuat Akizhanov, Deputy Director Two of the CAREC Institute, introduced the CAREC Strategy 2030 along with the sector strategies aimed at promoting well-planned economic corridors within the CAREC Region. This strategic framework is designed to enhance economic cooperation and integration among neighboring countries and regions.
Dr. Ilhom Abdulloev, Chief of the Capacity Building Division at the CAREC Institute, introduced the CAREC Corridors Performance Measurement and Monitoring tool, designed to evaluate the efficiency of CAREC transport corridors. This tool identifies the causes of delays and unnecessary costs, particularly at border crossings and intermediate stops, offering critical insights into inefficiencies. It also helps the CAREC national authorities pinpoint locations and methods to address bottlenecks, ensuring targeted and effective interventions.
International experts Dr. Ian Greenwood, a Chartered Professional Engineer and Fellow of Engineers – New Zealand, and Dr. Theuns Henning, a Senior Lecturer at the University of Auckland, brought their extensive expertise in RAM implementation, data collection, management, and maintenance to the workshop. Their contributions were invaluable, as they shared practical insights and methodologies that have proven effective in various contexts. Joining them was Mr. Giorgi Japaridze, a RAM System Consultant from Georgia, who enriched the discussions by providing examples of best practices within the CAREC region, highlighting successful strategies and lessons learned from his own experiences.
During the workshop, participants expressed a strong interest in fostering greater collaboration and knowledge exchange by organizing joint workshops with colleagues from other countries, particularly those within the CAREC framework. This suggestion aimed to enhance cross-country learning and create a platform for sharing diverse experiences and solutions to common challenges. On the final day of the workshop, attendees had the opportunity to visit the National Center for Quality of Road Assets. This site visit proved to be an ideal setting for discussing the various challenges faced by the Center. Participants engaged in meaningful conversations, and Dr. Greenwood’s feedback was particularly well-received, as it provided actionable insights that the Center could implement to improve its operations and outcomes.