The report provides an evidence-based assessment of progress made in enhancing the competitiveness of the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor (TCTC) in Central Asia since 2023 from the perspective of the private sector.
The methodology underpinning this report integrates qualitative and quantitative data collection methods aligned with OECD best practices and standards. The core of the research involved conducting around 150 interviews with EU and Central Asia private sector representatives operating on the TCTC. The analysis was complemented by the collection of written responses from the region’s governments to an OECD questionnaire. It also involved fact-finding interviews with development partners working in Central Asia.
The report employs a triangulation approach, cross-validating findings from interviews, written responses, and OECD work to ensure robustness and reliability. The integration of diverse data sources enabled a holistic assessment of regional development, governance, and sector-specific challenges, ensuring that conclusions and recommendations are evidence-based and aligned with OECD standards. Several OECD instruments and indicators available for the region, such as the OECD Product Market Regulation indicators, Trade Facilitation Indicators, FDI Regulatory Restrictiveness Index and data were used to refine the analysis.
Primary data source: private sector interviews and incorporation of governments’ written responses to an OECD questionnaire
The report is based primarily on insights gathered from 150 interviews with private sector stakeholders across the region. The OECD interviewed around 30 businesses per country in sectors such as transport, logistics, agriculture, textiles, and freight forwarding. These interviews aimed to capture views on the latest trade, regulatory, and transport infrastructure improvements and issues pertinent to Central Asia’s role on the TCTC. EU businesses working in the region were also interviewed. The report also synthesises written answers provided by governments of the region to a qualitative questionnaire designed by the OECD. The same questionnaire was shared with the five countries to elicit comparable data and facilitate cross-country analysis.