Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Georgia strategize to maximize Middle Corridor potential

Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Georgia have held discussions on optimizing the potential of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (Middle Corridor) to enhance freight transportation efficiency.

The meeting took place in Baku as part of the activities of the International Association “Trans-Caspian International Transport Route” (TITR), bringing together Chairman of Azerbaijan Railways CJSC (ADY) Rovshan Rustamov, Director General of JSC "Georgian Railway" David Peradze, and Chairman of the Board of JSC "National Company ‘Kazakhstan Railways’" Nurlan Sauranbayev, Caliber.Az reports.

During the discussions, the officials focused on coordinated efforts to ensure the timely delivery of container cargo from China to Europe. They also addressed the operational framework of Middle Corridor Multimodal LTD, a joint venture established by Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Georgia to facilitate the smooth, reliable, and efficient functioning of international transport corridors.

Emphasizing the regional importance of cooperation among key transit countries along the Middle Corridor, the parties highlighted the crucial role of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway line. They noted that its annual throughput capacity has reached 5 million tons, significantly contributing to the East-West freight movement.

A major achievement in this partnership was the successful dispatch of the first container block train from the Kazakh-Chinese terminal in Xi’an. Looking ahead, the three countries aim to increase the number of block trains transporting goods from China to Azerbaijan and Europe to 600 units in 2025.

The meeting also underscored the potential for significantly boosting cargo transportation volumes through enhanced cooperation among railway administrations. Expanding joint activities in this sector, they noted, would lead to a more effective utilization of the Middle Corridor’s transport capacity, strengthening its role as a key link in Eurasian trade.

By Tamilla Hasanova