ADB preparing report on port infrastructure investments in Caspian, Black Seas

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is preparing a report designed to outline promising areas for investment in port infrastructure, reducing the carbon footprint of maritime transport, introducing digital technologies, and forming sustainable trade corridors in the Caspian and Black Seas, ADB Senior Transport (Maritime Transport and Ports) Specialist Adrian Sammons said at the fifth Black and Caspian Freight Forum 2026 in Baku.

Report quotes Sammons as saying that in Central Asia, the ADB has long been a partner in financing and providing expert support for large-scale projects in the fields of transport, energy, water supply, and trade logistics.

This involves the construction of roads and railways, the creation of logistics complexes, the modernization of border crossings, and the development of regional economic corridors within the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) program.

"Currently, the ADB is expanding the scope of its activities toward ports, shipping, and multimodal logistics through a new project, for the implementation of which the bank is providing grant financing. This initiative is aimed at strengthening the climate resilience of ports, the logistics industry, and shipping in the CAREC region. During the project, the baseline report issued in 2021 will be updated. The updated document will make it possible to identify priority areas for future capital investments in port infrastructure, the decarbonization of maritime transport, digital transformation, and the building of sustainable trade routes in the Caspian and Black Seas, as well as in the broader CAREC region," the senior specialist noted.