Planning of National Transport Infrastructure
In the Islamic Countries
48
3. Case Studies Review
This chapter reviews the NTI planning in six specific countries that are selected as case studies.
Each major OIC region (Asia Africa, and the Middle East) is represented by two case studies; one
case study is developed based on a study visit and the other one is based on a desk research. The
purpose of the case study is to review the NTI planning process in each case study country. The
structure of the case study follows the overall structure of the research. Questionnaire responses
will be slotted into the analysis as it proceeds.
Table 5: Selected countries as case studies
OIC region Country Research Methodology
Asia Kazakhstan Study visit
Malaysia Desk research
Africa Uganda Study visit
Senegal Desk research
Middle East Qatar Study visit
Oman Desk research
3.1. Kazakhstan
With a population of 17.8 million people in 201614, Kazakhstan is the second most populous
country in Central Asia (after Uzbekistan) and has Central Asia’s largest area and economy.
Given the size of its territory (2.7million km2 ), the country’s population density of 7 people/km2
is the lowest in the region.
Located at the centre of transcontinental routes between Europe and China, Kazakhstan is an
important transit country for cargos travelling between the two continents and an important
stronghold of one of the most ambitious initiatives in the world: ‘One Belt, One Road’ initiative.
Currently there are 5 railway and 6 road corridors that passing through the Kazakhstan’s
territory.
3.1.1. Political and Legislation Factors
The Kazakhstan’s transport infrastructure development strategy is driven not only by the
potential and challenge faced by the country due to its position as a transit and landlocked
country, but also by disparities in social and economic welfare among the various regions.
Transport planning is expected to play a prominent role to provide an enabling environment for
social and economic development by creating efficient infrastructure and coherent policy and
institutional measures.
These views are shared by Nurly Zhol (in English: Bright Path), the State Program of
Infrastructure Development for 2015-2019 (hereinafter referred to Program) which is
developed to implement the Address of the President to the citizens of November 11, 2014
“Nurly Zhol – the path to the future” and to complement the Kazakhstan 2050 Strategy. It is a
medium-term state program with a purpose to create a single economic market of Kazakhstan
through:
14 World Bank Open Data