Access to maritime transport routes plays a key role in the development of international trade and the maintenance of foreign economic activity. Over the past decades, the global agenda has consistently included the issue of how to overcome trade, transport, and infrastructure barriers faced by landlocked developing countries (LDCs). The lack of direct access to ports forces … [Read more...]
The Caspian transport hub: from competition to cooperation – The Middle Corridor – a driver of Eurasian integration
For countries located deep within the Eurasian continent, access to the sea remains a key factor in competitiveness on international markets. Uzbekistan, located in the geographical center of the region and lacking direct access to the coast, has been purposefully restructuring its transport and logistics strategy in recent years to minimize distances to maritime hubs and … [Read more...]
Bulgaria and Kazakhstan Strengthen Cooperation via the Trans-Caspian Route
Bulgaria and Kazakhstan are set to intensify efforts to develop the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, also known as the Middle Corridor, which is becoming a vital link in transcontinental logistics connecting East and West. The Ministry of Transport of Kazakhstan and the Ministry of Transport and Communications of the Republic of Bulgaria signed a Memorandum of … [Read more...]
Kazakhstan Expands Aktau Port with Major Dredging Project
Kazakhstan has launched an ambitious dredging operation at its strategic Aktau port on the Caspian Sea, aiming to strengthen a vital link in the growing Trans-Caspian International Transport Route. The Ministry of Transport announced that specialized equipment from European dredging firm Jan De Nul has arrived to deepen the harbor by up to 2 meters. The mobilization phase … [Read more...]
ITTC-2024: The Plenary session highlighted the importance of international cooperation in the field of transport
On 26 November, the International Conference "International Transport and Transit Corridors: Interconnection and Development" (ITTC-2024) began its work in Ashgabat. The speeches of the plenary session were devoted to topical issues of the development of the transport industry, including strengthening international cooperation, innovation, digitalization and environmental … [Read more...]
COP29 ministerial roundtable advances cooperation to promote a sustainable and digital Middle Corridor
A ministerial roundtable held at COP29 on 20 November 2024 aimed to strengthen regional cooperation to promote sustainable development and digitalization, interoperability and climate action in the Middle Corridor, linking Europe and Asia via the Caspian Sea, and other international corridors. Jointly organized by UNECE, the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for … [Read more...]
Turkmenistan and Türkiye discuss transport cooperation on Middle Corridor
Mammetkhan Chakiyev, the head of the Agency for Transport and Communications under the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan, visited Türkiye to attend the International Road Federation (IRF) World Congress. On the sidelines of the forum Chakiyev met again with a delegation from the International Transporters Association (UND) of Türkiye. The meeting brought together Murat … [Read more...]
Reviving the Silk Road with a new digital link
Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan’s $50 million fiber-optic cable sets the stage for a digital Silk Road transformation A significant fiber-optic cable connection will be laid along the Caspian Sea floor thanks to an investment of over $50 million from Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan, Jaslan Madiyev, the minister of digital development, innovations and aerospace industry of Kazakhstan, … [Read more...]
Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan Eye Diversification of Middle Corridor
Chairman Rovshan Rustamov of Azerbaijan Railways CJSC met with his counterpart, Chairman of the Turkmen Railways Agency Azat Atamuradov, and a high-level delegation from the Turkmen Marine and River Ways agency (Turkmendenizderyayollary) during a recent working visit to Ashgabat. Discussions focused on strengthening railway cooperation between the two countries, with an aim … [Read more...]
Chinese trucks cross Caspian Sea in Middle Corridor TIR pilot
The three TIR trucks departed from China’s inland cities of Zhengzhou and Urumqi, before exiting China via the Khorgos-Nur Zholy border crossing. After crossing the Caspian Sea by ferry, the trucks reached their destinations in Azerbaijan and Georgia. The 6,600km journey took two weeks. This is the first time that Chinese trucking companies have taken this route using the … [Read more...]
Italian Senator Urges Businesses to Focus on Central Asia’s Potential
The Italian Senate recently hosted a conference on the "Middle Corridor: safe transit route between Italy, Azerbaijan, and Central Asia”, according to Uzbekistan news outlet “Dunyo”. The event, organized by the Italian Institute for Asia (ISIA), brought together Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Italy Edmondo Cirielli, heads of diplomatic … [Read more...]
Five Steps to Economic Resilience in the Caucasus and Central Asia
By Eugene Zhukov, Lyaziza Sabyrova, Roman Mogilevskii The ability of the economies of the Caucasus and Central Asia to effectively respond to external shocks critically depends on their cooperation in diversifying trade and transport routes. The right policies and development of the Middle Corridor is a key to success. In the last several years, the countries of the … [Read more...]
Kazakhstan Becomes Largest Transit Hub Between China and Europe
About 85% of all land transit traffic from China to Europe passes through Kazakhstan, Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov said at the official opening ceremony of the 6th China International Import Expo in Shanghai on 5 November 2023. Kazakhstan plays a strategic role as a regional transport and logistics hub, connecting the Eurasian continent with the Asia-Pacific region, … [Read more...]
Freight Volumes from China to Europe on the Middle Corridor Surge by Over 80%, says IRU
From January to August 2023, freight volumes from China to Europe along the Middle Corridor increased by over 80% compared to the same period last year. All signs point to more goods moving through the Middle Corridor in the years to come. This was stated by IRU Secretary General Umberto de Pretto at the 4th Tbilisi Silk Road Forum “Connecting Today Resilient Tomorrow”, in … [Read more...]
A leading European freight company is expanding multimodal transportation network between Europe and Central Asia
Freight transport division of Austrian federal railways ÖBB - Rail Cargo Group (RCG) is expanding its TransNET with new connections, bringing trading centers in Central Europe and Central Asia even closer together via the Middle Corridor. RCG connects the trading hubs of Central Europe and Central Asia with 16 new intermodal routes via the Middle Corridor. According to … [Read more...]
Simplification of customs procedures along the Trans-Caspian Transport Route discussed in Baku
On 15 March 2023, a multilateral meeting on the project of simplifying the transit customs procedure on the principle of "one window" within the framework of the Trans-Caspian International Corridor East-West (Middle Corridor) was held in Baku, the State Customs Committee of Azerbaijan reports. Heads and officials of the customs services of Azerbaijan, Turkey, Kazakhstan, … [Read more...]
Delivery time of goods from China to the Black Sea ports via the Caspian Sea has been halved
The delivery time of goods from China to ports on the Black Sea through the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route has been reduced from 38-53 to 19-23 days, and by the end of this year it should reach 14-18 days. This was reported at a recent meeting in the Government of Kazakhstan, dedicated to measures for the development of the middle route. On the … [Read more...]
Kazakhstan, UAE Ink Deal to Expand Port Infrastructure Cooperation
AD Ports Group, owner and operator of a dozen of ports and terminals in the UAE, will participate in the implementation of a major infrastructure project in one of the Caspian ports of Kazakhstan, which means further consolidation of the Emirati business in Central Asia. The Kazakhstani company Semurg Invest and AD Ports Group inked a deal Tuesday (15 Aug) for cooperation on … [Read more...]
Middle corridor under the spotlight of the expert meeting in Samarkand
At the end of June, the State Customs Committee of Uzbekistan hosted a meeting TIR Executive Board (TIRExB) Friends of the Chair meeting in Samarkand aimed at promoting digitalization of the rapidly developing Middle Corridor using eTIR tools. The Middle or Middle Corridor connects China, Central Asia through the Caspian Sea with the Caucasus, Turkey and Europe. The corridor … [Read more...]
Azerbaijan – Existing gas export routes are able integrate all Caspian countries
Elvira Kadyrova Azerbaijan is looking at very broad prospects for cooperation with Turkmenistan within the framework of the East-West or Middle Corridor project, told President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan during a press conference on Friday, 25 November. Answering the question of the former US Ambassador, Board member of Jamestown Foundation Matthew Bryza, about how things … [Read more...]
Cargo turnover along the Middle Corridor may grow to 10 million tons per year in three years
The capacity of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TMTM) or the Middle Corridor may increase to 10 million tons per year by 2025. The agreement on this was reached during the Ministerial Meeting on Trans-Caspian Connectivity, which was attended by the foreign and transport ministers of Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Türkiye. The meeting took place in Aktau … [Read more...]