Impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the transport and transit economy of the Republic of Uzbekistan: measures taken and new opportunities

Аннотация

The article examines the impact of the pandemic on the transport and transit economy of Uzbekistan, analyzes the problems that arose as a result of the pandemic and measures taken by the state during the crisis period. Positive developments in the transit economy were also noted, such as the activation of the transition to digitalization, the new transport corridor and the strengthening of integration of the Central Asian countries. Keywords: coronavirus, transit economy, digitalization, integration, tariffs, export, transport corridor. The world health organization (WHO) has declared the new coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak a global pandemic [1]. Worldwide, serious measures are being taken to combat the spread of coronavirus infection, primarily by imposing restrictions on the movement of people on transport and air routes, as well as suspending the activities of enterprises. In Uzbekistan, as in all countries, in order to prevent the spread of the virus, closed their borders and stopped passenger traffic in transport routes. Consequently, the transport industry has been seriously affected around the world. For the study were analyzed the works of V.P. Sidenko, A.V. Kuznetsov, A.N. Prikazyuk "Problems of epidemiology and prevention of natural foci infections in the territory of international transport corridors", D.T. Ibragimov "Assessment of the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the transport sector of Uzbekistan and measures to mitigate negative consequences", materials of JSC "Uzbekistan Temir Yullari", IPEM, SCO organization and Ministry of Transport of the Republic of Uzbekistan. 130 Scientific research results in pandemic conditions (COVID-19) Included are materials from the address of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan from March 19, 2020 №UP5969 "On the priority measures on mitigating the negative impact of the coronavirus pandemic and global crisis phenomena on the economic sectors". What was the result of the pandemic in the field of transport and transit economy of Uzbekistan? First of all, in order to prevent the spread of the virus, since March 20, 2020, passenger traffic on buses, cars, railways and air transport on international routes has been suspended for 40 days [2]. As history shows, transport occupies a leading place among other industries in terms of its state significance, penetration into all regions of the country and beyond, and the possibility of spreading epidemic diseases. In epidemiological terms, passenger transport vehicles are considered as transporters of migration routes for the transmission and spread of potentially dangerous pathogens over long distances [2]. An unfavorable epidemiological situation in the countries of Asia, Africa and Latin America in terms of quarantine (plague, cholera, yellow fever), as well as other and new, including the most dangerous viral infections, the growth of international passenger and freight traffic created favorable conditions for the entry of exotic agents of dangerous diseases in other countries [3]. An example of the spread of malaria is the introduction of this fever from the outside by means of transport, including sailors, aviators, passengers, tourists on their return from hot countries. The danger of spreading and appearance of anthropurgical (urban) foci of this protozoic infection is caused by the presence of a specific vector in the areas of airports, ports, and railway stations – places of mass congestion of passengers [3]. But a large-scale shutdown of the entire transport system can lead to serious economic problems. The analysis of the dynamics of the main transport indicators for the 1st quarter of 2020 shows a decrease in traffic volumes due to restrictions imposed by some countries in road transport in import traffic by 33.7%, in air transport, on air in transit traffic - 52.5%. If in the 1st quarter of the current year indicators on air (export and import) and automobile (export and transit) modes of transport had a stable growth rate to the same period of the last year, then already for 20 days of April in the midst of the quarantine period, a sharp decline in all types of communication is observed [2]. In order to mitigate the crisis, the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan raised the issue of providing tax holidays and preferences on credit debts, allocating budget loans to the sectors most affected by the pandemic [4]. 131 Scientific research results in pandemic conditions (COVID-19) In particular, Mirziyoyev noted that there is a growing risk that enterprises in transport and logistics (loan - 650 billion UZS), foreign trade enterprises (loan - 3.6 trillion UZS) will not be able to repay the loans on time and for this reason, together with the Ministry of Investment and Foreign Trade of Uzbekistan held negotiations with foreign creditors of Uzbekistanairways JSC to review the terms of repayment of loans and payments on them in connecti