A Chinese company will collaborate on the construction of a 920-meter road bridge across the Surkhob River in central Tajikistan, set to become the longest in Central Asia, according to Tajik officials. The project, primarily utilizing Tajik labor, will be financed through a loan from China’s Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB).
The bridge, with an estimated cost of $60 million, will be built in a challenging mountainous region, near an unfinished Soviet-era hydroelectric dam, a key infrastructure project for Tajikistan. The Tajik Ministry of Transport confirmed that 80% of the workforce will be Tajik, with 20% Chinese specialists providing technical expertise.
This project underscores China’s growing investment in Tajikistan, a landlocked nation bordering China, as part of its broader strategy to enhance transport infrastructure for improved trade connectivity with Europe. Over the past decade, China has invested over $4 billion in Tajikistan, significantly impacting the region’s economic landscape.
While Russia remains a major trading partner for Tajikistan, China’s increasing financial involvement, including holding approximately one-third of Tajikistan’s foreign debt, demonstrates its strategic influence in the region.
The bridge construction, though lacking a confirmed start date, signifies a significant development for Tajikistan, a nation heavily reliant on remittances from migrant workers in Russia. The project is expected to improve transportation and contribute to the country’s economic development.
