The Astana Times provides news and information from Kazakhstan and around the world. ASTANA — For years, transport infrastructure in Eurasia was measured in kilometers of railway laid or highways built. Today, another question is becoming increasingly important: who is financing the region’s new transport geography?
The latest update of the Eurasian Development Bank’s (EDB) Observatory of the Eurasian Transport Framework, released on July 23, offers an answer that extends well beyond infrastructure. Behind 402 transport projects worth $345 billion, with another $100 billion still in the pipeline, lies a changing balance of economic influence across the continent. The report suggests that transport is no longer simply about moving goods.
It has become one of the clearest indicators of how different centers of power are shaping Eurasia’s future. Photo credit: Ministry of Transport. The numbers tell a more nuanced story Russia remains by far the largest investor, accounting for roughly $219 billion, or 63% of all investments captured by the Observatory.
Eight of the ten largest infrastructure projects are located in Russia, with the modernization of the Eastern railway polygon remaining the single biggest undertaking. That dominance reflects both the scale of Russia’s existing transport network and its continued focus on redirecting trade flows eastward. Yet the report also illustrates that influence over Eurasia’s transport landscape is becoming increasingly diversified.
Central Asia now accounts for more than $72 billion invested across 114 projects, representing over one-fifth of all investments in the Eurasian Transport Framework. Nearly half of that amount is concentrated in Kazakhstan, while major projects are also underway across Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan. In 2025 alone, the region commissioned transport infrastructure worth approximately $6 billion, including Kazakhstan’s upgraded Dostyk-Moiynty railway, whose capacity increased fivefold after the construction of second tracks.
China has likewise become an increasingly visible player. According to the EDB, transport projects involving Chinese participation now exceed $12 billion, while financing from Chinese sources has surpassed $7 billion. Beijing’s role extends beyond loans, encompassing grants, engineering, construction and direct investment.
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