At the recent SCO Summit, Kazakh entrepreneur Bashir Modanov urged leaders to supercharge the Digital Silk Road, calling for deeper digital links between China and Central Asia. His message: stronger connectivity fuels growth for startups and consumers alike.
As the founder of Autokit and FactoriesQ, Modanov has firsthand experience. Autokit’s online auto-parts marketplace now connects buyers across key SCO markets, while FactoriesQ has helped local manufacturers scale exports through shared digital tools and data analytics.
According to panel data shared by Modanov, online trade between China and Central Asia jumped nearly 40% in 2023. He attributes this surge to new e-payment systems, streamlined logistics corridors and a wave of young consumers eager for cross-border shopping.
Modanov believes the Digital Silk Road is more than a trade route. He says “it can narrow the regional tech gap, empower small businesses and spark the next generation of innovators”. He also highlighted opportunities in fintech, blockchain tracking and green logistics to keep the momentum going.
As the SCO agenda shifts toward digital cooperation, entrepreneurs and digital nomads stand to benefit from faster transactions, broader markets and sustainable solutions. How will you harness the next wave of the Digital Silk Road?
Reference(s):
SCO Summit: Kazakh entrepreneur urges bolstering Digital Silk Road
cgtn.com
