Mongolia kicked off the 23rd meeting of the CAREC Transport Sector Coordinating Committee on Monday in Ulaanbaatar, promoting its ambitious Transit Mongolia strategy as the region grapples with shifting trade routes. The two-day event marks the program’s 25th anniversary and brings together 11 member countries and development partners. Minister of Road and Transport Delgersaikhan Borkhuu opened the meeting by calling CAREC corridors a vital economic lifeline for the landlocked nation. He then laid out Mongolia’s goal of becoming a regional hub under the Transit Mongolia banner.
Minister Delgersaikhan stressed that geopolitical shifts and supply chain disruptions have given Central Asia renewed strategic importance. Consequently, countries now seek more reliable and diversified transport networks. He told delegates that Transit Mongolia aims to leverage the country’s position between Asia and Europe. The plan envisions Mongolia developing into a center for transport, trade, and services. Furthermore, the minister announced that Mongolia has formally submitted a proposal to the United Nations. The proposal calls for a unified international transport insurance system across the Asia-Pacific region.
Significantly, Mongolia’s TIR transport operations surged from just 1 percent in 2016 to 47 percent by 2025. Shipments jumped from 56 to 4,711 during that period, the ministry reported. In addition, the country has established legal frameworks for direct road transport with 25 nations. Meanwhile, railway projects like Zuunbayan–Khangi and the western and eastern corridors aim to create new export routes. Strategic border crossings at Zamiin-Uud and Altanbulag are also undergoing capacity expansions.
In civil aviation, Mongolia pursues an air transport liberalization policy. It prepares for direct flights to the United States and European Union. Airports in Khovd, Umnugobi, Khuvsgul, and Bayan-Ulgii aimags will upgrade to handle international flights. As part of the Transit Mongolia push, these moves aim to integrate the country deeper into global logistics networks.
The meeting also reviews the CAREC Transport Strategy 2030 midterm, regional transport modeling, and supply chain analysis. Sectoral sessions cover road safety, smart mobility, and digital transformation. Mongolia presented reports on regional motor insurance and road asset management. With the country hosting CAREC activities in 2026, the gathering underscores its growing influence. As the Transit Mongolia vision takes shape, the government expects further investment and cooperation. For now, the landlocked nation is turning geography into opportunity, one transport link at a time.
