Azerbaijan Railways calls for stronger regional coordination to sustain Middle Corridor PHOTO

The deputy chairman of Azerbaijan Railways CJSC (ADY), Arif Aghayev, has said stronger regional coordination is essential to ensure the long-term sustainability of the Middle Corridor, as shifting geopolitical dynamics reshape Eurasian trade routes.

Speaking at a regional railway seminar organised by the World Bank in Vienna, Aghayev outlined Azerbaijan’s position on regional connectivity, the growing potential of the Middle Corridor and the company’s strategic vision amid the current geopolitical landscape, Caliber.Az reports.

Addressing a session titled “Country Visions: Prospects and Challenges for Railways in Modern Geopolitical Conditions”, he said Azerbaijan’s role as a key Eurasian transit hub is strengthening, given its location at the intersection of the East–West and North–South transport corridors.

Aghayev stressed that deeper regional cooperation is crucial for the sustainable development of the Middle Corridor. In response to evolving geopolitical conditions, cooperation within the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route and the International Association Eurasian Transport Route is being expanded to promote coordinated, resilient and digitalised connectivity.

He added that electronic documentation processes are being accelerated and data integration enhanced with Kazakhstan and China to streamline cross-border freight flows.

In recent years, ADY has carried out major capital works to increase transit capacity along the Azerbaijani section of the Middle Corridor. The introduction of digital solutions has helped reduce transit times, the company said.

As a result, 392 block trains were handled on the East–West route in 2025, representing a 37% increase compared with 2024.

Container throughput at the Port of Baku also reached a record level in 2025, exceeding 100,000 TEU. Work is continuing to expand corridor capacity, raise the port’s annual cargo handling capacity to 260,000 TEU and further improve border procedures, according to the company.