Alyona Lebedeva says Central Asia must turn transit routes into production links

At a Tashkent conference on Oct. 20-21, Alyona Lebedeva argued that Central Asia should use new transport corridors to grow manufacturing, not just transit. The warning lands as Uzbekistan pushes for deeper trade integration, more resilient supply chains and more industrial investment.

Why it matters: - Central Asia's transport corridors can lift trade only if they also support factories, suppliers and skilled jobs. - For Uzbekistan, the payoff from better logistics depends on whether new routes help local firms produce more finished goods, not just move cargo faster. - The region's trade strategy is being shaped at a time when global supply chains are fragmenting and companies face more risk from overreliance on a single market.

What happened: - The fifth Tashkent Business and Economics Conference (TBEC 2026) was held on Oct. 20-21 in Tashkent. - The conference focused on trade, transport infrastructure and economic integration in Central Asia. - Alyona Lebedeva, owner of Aurum Group and co-owner of the Tashkent Pump Plant, attended the conference. - The main theme was "Rethinking the Silk Road: regional connectivity and trade integration."

The details: - Participants discussed how global supply chains are changing, what role Central Asia can play in trade between Europe and Asia, and what is needed to build domestic production. - The program included representatives of MSC, Uzbekistan Airways, Qanot Sharq and logistics specialists. - The research track examined cooperation between sea and dry ports on routes between China and Uzbekistan, supply chain resilience and the economic effect of transport integration. - Uzbekistan's lack of direct sea access makes infrastructure in neighboring countries, aligned customs procedures and alternative routes especially important. - Lebedeva said transport development must be matched by industrial growth, or much of the economic benefit will stay outside the region. - Lebedeva said transport projects can create stronger results when they lead to industrial cooperation, new orders and joint production. - Lebedeva said regional logistics also matters for Uzbek machine-building companies because infrastructure upgrades create demand for industrial equipment, engineering solutions and maintenance services.

Between the lines: - The conference framing suggests Central Asia is shifting from thinking about transit as an end in itself to treating it as a tool for industrial policy. - That matters because logistics gains alone do not automatically build domestic capacity. - A more connected region could still miss out on value creation if investment does not flow into equipment, energy systems and workforce training. - The global trade backdrop is more uncertain: Professor Marina Dabic presented a talk on a fragmented world economy, and the IMF has modeled long-term global GDP losses of 0.3% under limited trade separation, 2.3% under full division into two blocs, and up to 7% when chain-restructuring costs are included. - Lebedeva said industrial companies face not only higher logistics costs but also reduced access to technology, components and markets. - For Central Asia, that means keeping economic links with multiple partners instead of tying regional integration to one trade direction. - TBEC 2026 also highlighted women in business and leadership, including presentations by Professor Norma Mansor and a study by Zebokhon Khaitboeva on women's entrepreneurship in Uzbekistan based on a survey of 301 executives. - Lebedeva said women still face barriers to leadership in industry, even when they have the necessary skills. - Lebedeva said women's entrepreneurship needs more than education programs and also requires financing, professional networks and access to major industrial projects.

What's next: - The region's next test is whether trade and infrastructure projects translate into production, investment and export capacity. - Uzbekistan's industrial gains will depend on the quality of infrastructure, business conditions and the ability of local companies to join international production chains. - Lebedeva said Central Asia should aim for more finished goods production in the region, not just higher transit volumes.