As global trade tensions simmer 🌍📉, former Kyrgyz Prime Minister Djoomart Otorbaev shared insights on how Central Asia is navigating economic headwinds through bold infrastructure and tech-driven strategies. In an exclusive interview with CGTN’s Guan Xin, Otorbaev spotlighted the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway as a game-changer for regional connectivity.
Breaking Down Borders with Mega-Projects
Otorbaev called the railway—a $5 billion corridor linking Central Asia to global markets—a "modern Silk Road" that could reshape trade flows. 🛤️💡 He emphasized that such projects counter protectionism by "integrating markets beyond traditional geopolitical divides."
Digital Bridges Over Tariff Walls
Beyond steel rails, the ex-PM stressed digital innovation as key to growth. 💻🚀 He highlighted Central Asia’s push for e-commerce platforms and AI-driven logistics to bypass tariff barriers, saying, "Tech lets smaller economies punch above their weight."
Youth in the Driver’s Seat
With 60% of Central Asia under 30, Otorbaev sees young entrepreneurs as critical to this transformation. 👩💼👨🔧 "They’re coding solutions today that’ll define our shared economic tomorrow," he told BizTalk.
