ADB Approves $400 Million Financing Facility to Modernize Borders, Facilitate Trade in CAREC Region
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $400 million regional financing facility to modernize border crossing points, reduce transport and logistics costs, and make the movement of people and goods across the CAREC region faster and more efficient.
The Border Upgrades for Integration, Logistics, and Development (BUILD) Facility will support priority investments in road and rail border crossing points, combining modern infrastructure with digital systems, advanced inspection and screening equipment, and more efficient and harmonized border procedures.
“Borders are not just checkpoints. These are gateways to create jobs, regional markets, and income opportunities,” said ADB Director General for Central and West Asia Leah Gutierrez. “Through the BUILD Facility, ADB will help CAREC countries create faster, smarter, and more connected borders.”
Across CAREC corridors, growing trade volumes and infrastructure and capacity constraints continue to make border crossings major bottlenecks. BUILD will help address these challenges while strengthening border management, transport and logistics systems, and institutional capacity.
It will also enable the private sector to unlock opportunities and strengthen the participation of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises in regional trade, particularly in agriculture, tourism, and transport services.
The BUILD Facility will support investments across the 11 CAREC countries: Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, the People’s Republic of China, Georgia, Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Mongolia, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.