Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Türkiye changing Eurasia's logistics picture
Expert opinions on Caliber.Az

INTERVIEWS  29 June 2022 - 13:50

A trilateral meeting of the foreign and transport ministers of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Türkiye was held in Baku on Azerbaijan's initiative. The first meeting of this level made it possible to comprehensively discuss the opportunities for further expanded cooperation in the transport and communications fields between the three countries. The main topics of discussion and analysis were the building up of trilateral and regional partnerships and the development of the potential of the East-West Middle Corridor through the Caspian Sea. The meeting ended with the signing of the Baku Declaration.

It is significant that the three countries' ministers devoted a lot of attention to the Zangazur corridor. Does this mean that this path can become one of the main, core transport projects forming the basis of trilateral cooperation and what prospects does it open up for the participating countries with its launch?

Doctor of Economics, Professor, Head of the Department of Economics and Economic Relations at Odlar Yurdu University Elshad Mammadov, Director of the Russian Centre for the Study of Modern Türkiye, Amur Gadzhiyev and Kazakh political scientist, expert of the Institute of Eurasian Integration Samat Nurtaza answer these and other questions of Caliber.Az.

Professor E. Mammadov:

- On the modern economic track, regional cooperation, including within the framework of the Turkic-speaking states, is becoming one of the priorities.

There is no doubt that for the countries of the region, partnership in the context of globalisation, strengthening trade and economic development in the regional context is of paramount importance in foreign economic activity. There are special prospects for Azerbaijan here. Over the past three decades, our country has conducted its foreign economic policy based mainly on the export of energy resources, hydrocarbons and other natural resources to the EU. Today, priorities are changing, and new prospects for the development of non-resource segments of the domestic industry are emerging. And this, among other things, promises the opening of new jobs, and for highly qualified professionals. That is, it will be possible to solve the problem of employment on a regional scale. If the economic policy of the state corresponds to this, then I think that the prospects for a more proportional, balanced development of the domestic economy are obvious.

As for the Zangazur corridor, it is not just an impetus for the economic development of Azerbaijan, but also an incentive for cooperation in a broader format.

Broad-format regional cooperation is the path that is necessary for accelerated and advanced technical and economic regional development, and the Zangazur corridor in this regard, of course, is one of the impulses for deep regional economic integration. The development of specific national economies in the context of the Zangazur corridor will enable Baku to deepen relations between the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic and mainland Azerbaijan in a more simplified version. If we are talking about other countries in the region, then, undoubtedly, this is an opportunity to develop trade and economic cooperation through Azerbaijan's territory.

I am sure that it is also extremely important for Türkiye not only to acquire new sales markets but also to simplify export-import operations for them. For other countries in the region, this is an opportunity to enter the Turkish market. In addition, in the context of the inevitable deglobalisation, the implementation of such transport and logistics arteries-corridors should give an impetus to the economic development of the entire region.

And for the non-oil sector of Azerbaijan, new transport and logistics routes and, in general, the deepening of regional economic cooperation is an additional impetus for the development of non-resource segments of the domestic economy.

I believe that the implementation of transport and logistics projects is not only an opportunity to increase transit and realise transit potential. First of all, transport and logistics corridors should serve as a basis for the transportation of products that are produced or will be produced in Azerbaijan. If we initiate transport and logistics projects, then first of all we should think about producing more high-tech products and only then about transporting these products. Therefore, regional economic cooperation, transport and logistics projects should be considered, implemented and implemented mainly in order to develop entrepreneurial activity, and non-resource segments of the economy, and priority should be given to the production of products with higher added value. By solving social problems, employment issues, economic development, and stimulating the domestic market, it is possible to deepen and generally expand economic development in our country.

Russian expert Amur Gadzhiyev:

Initiatives aimed at developing integration between the participants of a certain interstate association have a positive impact on the future prospects of this association. In this sense, the trilateral meeting in Baku, as well as the signing of the Baku Declaration, can accelerate integration processes within the Organisation of Turkic States to a certain extent, strengthening its position in the international arena.

There is no doubt that Türkiye also receives tangible benefits from cooperation with other Turkic countries. First, it is strengthening its regional geopolitical positions. Secondly, it develops trade and economic opportunities. Thirdly, it expands its own transport and logistics links. Fourth, it develops cultural and humanitarian contacts with key countries of the region.

And in this regard, the Zangazur corridor is one of the promising elements of trilateral cooperation. But it is not a key one, and in my opinion, it will not have a decisive influence on the further development of the trilateral dialogue.

In general, the implementation of transport projects can stimulate the interest of entrepreneurs in economic activity. Azerbaijan has enormous opportunities for this. This is the human potential, geographical location, tourist attraction, and unique culture of the multinational republic. All this together, in my opinion, is positively assessed by potential investors and entrepreneurs.

Kazakh political scientist Samat Nurtaza:

- The last two or three years have been truly historic for Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan was able to regain its territories, which resulted in the prospect of restoring the historical region of Karabakh and opening, in particular, the Zangazur corridor. All this is certainly a positive moment for Kazakhstan, as the country can use the Zangazur corridor and the Caspian Sea to transport its goods.

It seems to me that the visit of the Kazakh president to Iran, following which an agreement was reached to build a railway through Turkmenistan bypassing Russia, and the meeting of transport and foreign ministers in Baku are interrelated. Now it is unprofitable to carry goods through the Russian Federation since the country is under Western sanctions. And in the future, Kazakhstan and the whole of Central Asia may even carry their goods through the Caspian Sea or through Iran to Azerbaijan and further to Türkiye. Thus, we will connect ourselves not only with cultural ties but also with railway communication.

However, a lot will depend on the consequences of the conflict between Ukraine and Russia. Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan have borders with the Russian Federation. In our country, this border is, of course, larger than the Azerbaijani one, nevertheless, the Turkic states are gradually leaving the orbit of Russia. Of course, it will be more difficult for Kazakhstan to do this than for Azerbaijan since the geographical location makes it necessary to reckon with Russia…

Caliber.Az