Kyrgyzstan National Investment Agency has signed an agreement with All American Rail Group Global Infrastructure Partner for the Makmal-Karakol railway public-private partnership (PPP) project.

The project involves constructing a railway across central Kyrgyzstan, traversing mountainous terrain from east to west, and connecting Karakol in the northeastern Issyk-Kul region with Makmal in the southwestern Jalal-Abad region. The project represents an investment of approximately US$3 billion and will enhance Kyrgyzstan’s connectivity with neighboring countries, particularly through its link to the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan (CKU) railway, which will pass through Makmal. 

The CKU railway project, officially launched in December 2024, aims to serve as a major East-West trade route. Construction of the CKU railway is already underway. The 523-km CKU railway will connect Kashgar (China), Torugart, Makmal, Jalal-Abad (Kyrgyzstan), and Andijan (Uzbekistan). Once completed, it is expected to transport up to 15 million tons of cargo annually, facilitating trade between China, Central Asia, the Middle East — including Turkey — and the European Union.