DIGITAL CORRIDORS AND THE FUTURE OF REGIONAL TRADE: TAJIKISTAN’S DIGITALIZATION DRIVE IN THE ECO CONTEXT

Abstract

This study examines how Tajikistan, a landlocked and digitally lagging member of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) can leverage regional digital integration to overcome its infrastructure and institutional deficits.  The research asks: How can landlocked ECO states like Tajikistan utilize regional digital frameworks to compensate for national-level gaps in connectivity, capacity, and policy? Using a qualitative comparative case analysis of Tajikistan alongside more advanced peers (Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan), the study draws on policy documents, digital development indicators, and institutional reports. It engages conceptual frameworks of digital sovereignty, digital public goods, and regional integration theory to assess whether regional initiatives, for example, cross-border “digital corridors,” harmonized e-commerce regulations, and shared digital  platforms can mitigate the disadvantages of small, remote economies. The findings indicate that regional digital cooperation can indeed act as a compensatory mechanism (for example, by pooling infrastructure and expertise), but only if accompanied by deep policy harmonization and trust among member states. Without such alignment, Tajikistan’s domestic digital reforms are likely to stagnate.  The article contributes to scholarly debates by reframing digital sovereignty in a regional context and highlighting digital public infrastructure as a regional public good. It proposes a strategy based on three major three pillars (1) harmonize digital policies and standards, (2) invest in shared digital infrastructure and capacity, and (3) build regional capacity and knowledge-sharing mechanisms. These insights bridge policy and theory, offering lessons for regional connectivity and digital development.