Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan agree on unified tariff for Middle Corridor

Railway operators from Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Kazakhstan have agreed to implement a unified tariff along the Middle Corridor, Azerbaijani Prime Minister Ali Asadov announced at the 5th Tbilisi Silk Road Forum.

Asadov highlighted that the Middle Corridor has established itself as a reliable route connecting China and Central Asia with Europe, Caliber.Az reports, citing local media.

“Azerbaijan and Georgia play leading roles in developing this strategic transport corridor. Thanks to our geographic location and modern transport infrastructure, our countries are among the key participants of the Middle Corridor. By combining efforts, we are expanding infrastructure, simplifying transit procedures, and increasing transit capacity,” he said.

He also noted that projects to modernise ports, logistics centres, and implement digital solutions exemplify this cooperation. Over the past three years, transit cargo volumes along the Middle Corridor have grown by approximately 90%, while transit times have been reduced to 15 days.

Azerbaijan and Georgia are also focusing on improving administrative and legal mechanisms, including harmonising tariff policies, streamlining customs and border procedures, and promoting multimodal transportation with international partners.

In early October, the railway operators from Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Kazakhstan reached an agreement on a long-term unified tariff for Middle Corridor shipments. They also agreed to take joint steps to improve port, rail, and logistics infrastructure, eliminate bottlenecks, expand digitalisation, and increase the corridor’s throughput.

“Our joint efforts will unlock the full transport and logistics potential of the region, boost trade and investment flows, and strengthen economic ties across Eurasia,” Asadov concluded.

The Middle Corridor, or Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, is a multimodal trade corridor connecting China and Southeast Asia to Europe via Kazakhstan, the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Türkiye. It serves as a strategic alternative to northern routes through Russia and southern routes via the Suez Canal, enhancing East-West connectivity by integrating rail, road, and maritime transport. This corridor is gaining strategic importance for diversifying supply chains and improving logistics between Asia and Europe.  

By Khagan Isayev