Azerbaijani rail official: 2026 kicks off with fresh push for Middle Corridor

The new year has begun with renewed impetus for the Middle Corridor, according to Emil Mammadov, adviser to the chairman of Azerbaijan Railways (ADY).

Mammadov said that cooperation along the corridor could move into a phase of practical results this year, following the establishment of the Eurasian Transport Route Association in 2025, Caliber.Az reports via local media.

“2026 has started with a fresh impulse for the Middle Corridor,” he said, noting that the region has moved beyond the stage of “wild capitalism” into a period where globalisation demands coordinated action – including the development of transport corridors, expanded trade, and business growth along these routes.

Mammadov highlighted China’s long-term engagement in this direction and said European transport partners are now showing similar openness. “They are ready to actively participate in the processes, not just observe from the sidelines,” he added.

The first working meeting of the Eurasian Transport Route Association took place today. Mammadov described it as a practical step towards strengthening the southern section of the Middle Corridor. “2026 could be the period when cooperation begins to deliver visible results in regional economic integration,” he said.

Earlier, ADY had stated that the next stage of the corridor’s development this year would focus on eastbound freight transport.

The International Eurasian Transport Route Association was launched in Baku on September 20, 2024, with the participation of ADY, Uzbekistan Railways, Kyrgyz Temir Jolu, and Tajik Railways, with Azerbaijan serving as chair.

The association aims to attract transit cargo, develop integrated logistics products, standardise transport procedures, implement effective tariff policies, and optimise costs.

By Aghakazim Guliyev