Transport Infrastructure and Territorial Competitiveness As Drivers of Sustainable Regional Development: Evidence from Central Asia and Uzbekistan

The paper analyzed the impact of transport infrastructure and territorial competitiveness on sustainable regional development, using Central Asia and Uzbekistan as a case study. The research integrated public capital theory, new economic geography, and Porter’s competitiveness framework into a unified analytical model. Empirical analysis was based on the World Bank’s 2023 Logistics Performance Index, providing a comparative assessment of regional economies. The findings showed that transport quality affected competitiveness through three key channels: cost reduction, integration into value chains, and increased investment attractiveness. Uzbekistan’s significant improvement in LPI ranking during 2016–2023 was attributed to institutional reforms and infrastructure development. The study proposed a corridor-based specialization model and identified policy directions to support sustainable regional growth.