Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov has highly praised the economic prospects of the new transnational railway linking China, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan. The head of state declared that the railway would become the country's "second Kumtor," comparing its transit revenue potential to the profits from the republic's largest gold mine.

According to the president, the launch of this transport artery will lift Kyrgyzstan out of its transport isolation, turning it into a fully fledged transit state. He noted that revenues from cargo transit would be stable, long-term, and comparable to those generated by the Kumtor mine (whose net profit in 2025, as the head of state mentioned, reached USD 678 million).

Sadyr Japarov emphasized that the project will create new jobs, significantly boost international trade, and transform the republic into a crucial transit corridor between East and West.

Logistics implications for the food market

For Chinese food producers and exporters, the launch of a direct railway connection through Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan unlocks fundamentally new logistical opportunities.

The new route is expected to cut transit times by 7 to 10 days compared to existing alternatives. Reduced delivery times are critical for transporting perishable food products, including fresh fruit, vegetables, and frozen goods. The railway will allow agricultural companies from China and Central Asia to lower transport costs and accelerate the delivery of food products both to domestic markets within the region and to destinations in the Middle East and Southern Europe.

Under the current plans, the construction of the Kyrgyz section of the railway is scheduled to be completed by 2030.