According to the ADB, the TA will support ADB and DMCs with the special focus on CAREC countries in developing border crossing points (BCPs) with climate and innovation focus. The TA will utilize CAREC as a platform to support processing of BCP projects under the BUILD facility, which will finance a series of individual small-value BCP projects along the CAREC corridors. The TA will support:

(i) preparation of at least three priority BCP projects in CAREC region including scoping, feasibility studies and due diligence;
(ii) conceptualization of a new preparation and implementation approach of the candidate BCP projects of CAREC countries to be processed under the BUILD facility; and
(iii) capacity building initiatives for CAREC countries in BCP development and operations.

ADB has been monitoring time and cost of road and rail freight along the CAREC corridors through corridor performance measurement and monitoring (CPMM) annually since 2010. As demonstrated by the CPMM, BCPs in CAREC region remain major bottlenecks for cross-border transport and logistics. The following issues reduce the efficiency of the CAREC transport network and increase trade costs:

(i) lack of institutional coordination among national transport agencies and BMAs in most CAREC countries and between BMAs and neighboring countries;
(ii) outdated infrastructure and equipment;
(iii) permanent or temporary closures of BCPs;
(iv) inefficient and duplicative customs, immigration, security, sanitary, and phytosanitary control procedures; and
(v) lack of private sector investment in providing additional financing.

ADB has financed or analyzed several individual BCP projects with significant results. However, improvement of each individual BCP is operationally inefficient considering:

(i) their relatively small size and remote locations,
(ii) the need to study and produce similar documentation for each project,
(iii) recruiting different consulting firms for each project to perform similar activities, and
(iv) identical transaction costs and project preparation timelines despite the smaller financing amounts.

The TA, together with the BUILD facility, will streamline ADB's internal procedures by enhancing its ability to process small-value projects in the CAREC region faster and with lower transaction costs.

The MTR of the CTS 2030, conducted in 2025, identified strengthening cross-border transport and corridor efficiency as one of the four pillars of key recommendations. The MTR proposed measures such as establishing a financing facility for BCP improvements and promoting an economic corridor approach to address connectivity, accessibility, and mobility comprehensively. The MTR was endorsed by the CAREC Ministerial Conference in November 2025.

ADB Team Leader:

Ari Kalliokoski
Email: akalliokoski@adb.org 

ACCESS TO INFORMATION

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ADB has a two-stage appeals process for requesters who believe that ADB has denied their request for information in violation of its Access to Information Policy. You can learn more about filing an appeal at: https://www.adb.org/site/disclosure/appeals

ACCOUNTABILITY MECHANISM OF ADB

The Accountability Mechanism is an independent complaint mechanism and fact-finding body for people who believe they are likely to be, or have been, adversely affected by an Asian Development Bank-financed project. If you submit a complaint to the Accountability Mechanism, they may investigate to assess whether the Asian Development Bank is following its own policies and procedures for preventing harm to people or the environment. You can learn more about the Accountability Mechanism and how to file a complaint at: http://www.adb.org/site/accountability-mechanism/main.