The Border Upgrades for Integration, Logistics, and Development (BUILD) program provides funding for physical infrastructure, including both road and rail upgrades, alongside digital border management systems and advanced screening equipment. According to ADB Director General for Central and West Asia Leah Gutierrez, the project seeks to move beyond viewing borders as mere checkpoints, repositioning them as critical infrastructure for job creation and market expansion.
For regional businesses, current delays translate into rising fuel bills, spoiled perishables, and unpredictable supply chains. By modernizing inspection procedures and fostering better coordination between neighboring countries, the program aims to lower these overheads. The initiative emphasizes that infrastructure alone is insufficient; it will also support institutional reforms to ensure that new technologies are utilized effectively by border agencies. Beyond logistics, the program seeks to integrate micro and small enterprises into regional markets by reducing the high cost of cross-border trade, ultimately aiming to attract private sector investment in warehousing and logistics services across the CAREC corridor.
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