ArmInfo. The Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) is open and will be happy to work to attract new shareholders, including Turkey. Chairman of the Board of the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) Nikolai Podguzov stated this on June 27 in Almaty within the framework of the EDB Annual Meeting and Business Forum in a conversation with journalists to clarify how things stand in the matter of cooperation with Turkiye.
"We, of course, are focused primarily on the shareholder countries and are actively investing in our region of presence. But, for example, Kazakhstan has very close ties with Turkey, and yes, the Russian Federation. And there are a number of joint projects. This is, for example, construction hospitals, this is the creation of the large Almaty ring road, this is literally the recently opened terminal of the Almaty airport, which with the participation of Turkish investors is happening through joining the bank," Podguzov emphasized.
At the same time, he added that in this matter it is difficult for the Bank to show too persistent initiative, because the shareholders must first communicate. "But we, of course, are very open to interaction with Turkey. Unfortunately, the tragedy that occurred some time ago, the earthquake that claimed a large number of lives, we also allocated $1 million from the technical assistance fund as part of humanitarian support to eliminate the consequences earthquakes. I repeat, we are open and will be happy to work to attract new shareholders, including Turkey. All North-South routes are very relevant for Turkey, so I believe that our work in the region also works for the Republic of Turkey," said Podguzov.
In turn, Evgeniy Vinokurov, Deputy Chairman of the Board, Chief Economist of the EDB, drew attention to the fact that the region has historically worked along a west-east line. According to him, "that is, everything that the accumulated infrastructure connects the entire West and East. And now, over the last 10 years and especially now, the North-South corridors have begun to grow. And we calculated that when the West, the North, and the South intersect, a synergy of +40% of container traffic arises, a case with the intersection of the western north-south branch and TRACECA. There, the origin of a new flow due to synergy, a new flow went to Turkey. And now is an absolutely historic time. You know, jokes aside, even in the 12th century the Silk Road went from west to east. And now, for the first time in history, non- regional routes are emerging, not only the North-South ITC along the Caspian Sea, but also other corridors in Central Asia. And Central Asia got a chance to first reduce its costs, which are 40% higher than the costs of countries that are doing well, such as Chile, and then become a transport crossroads," Vinokurov concluded.
