China joins Middle Corridor freight venture, boosting Trans-Eurasian link

Middle Corridor Multimodal Ltd, the joint venture established by the railway authorities of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Georgia to manage and coordinate freight transport along the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, is set to gain a major new shareholder from China.

At an extraordinary general meeting of the joint venture's shareholders held in Baku, the decision was made to admit China Railway Container Transport Co., Ltd—one of China's key freight operators—as a new member of the company. The move is expected to enhance the JV’s connectivity with Chinese logistics infrastructure and boost the efficiency of East-West cargo flow.

Kazakhstan Railways (KTZ), one of the founding shareholders, confirmed the development and noted that its Chairman, Talgat Aldybergenov, met with Azerbaijan’s Minister of Digital Development and Transport, Rashad Nabiyev, during his working visit to Baku. Their discussions focused on advancing the Middle Corridor’s capacity, accelerating the digitalisation of logistics operations, and executing the Roadmap for removing infrastructural and procedural bottlenecks along the route.

The sides agreed to implement a joint monitoring mechanism to track transit times of container trains along the corridor. This system is intended to ensure greater schedule adherence, allow for the swift resolution of logistical challenges, and improve the overall performance and competitiveness of the route.

Middle Corridor Multimodal Ltd, registered at the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC), serves as a unified operator providing single-window multimodal logistics services. It plays a central role in the management of block trains, the coordination of tariff policies, the simplification of cross-border formalities, and ensuring reliable and timely cargo deliveries between China and Europe.

As the demand for alternative trade routes grows amid shifting global supply chains, the Middle Corridor—anchored by infrastructure such as the Baku–Tbilisi–Kars railway and upgraded Caspian Sea ports—has emerged as a strategic option bypassing traditional northern routes. 

By Tamilla Hasanova