Digital backbone of Eurasia How the Middle Corridor is going high-tech

As a key transport hub of the Middle Corridor, Azerbaijan has been shaping a modern transport infrastructure for several years, while simultaneously introducing new IT solutions in the field of transit logistics. In recent years, digitalisation efforts have been carried out in close coordination with the countries of the Caspian region within the framework of programmes aimed at expanding the capacity of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR). The logical continuation of these efforts should be the acceleration of the integration of Kazakhstan’s digital systems with its TITR partners — Azerbaijan and Georgia: a relevant instruction was recently given to the relevant agencies by Kazakh Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov.

As the experience of European Union countries, North America, China, and developed Asia-Pacific states shows, the key condition for simplifying and increasing foreign trade, as well as boosting revenues in the field of cross-border transport routes today, is the fullest possible use of multimodal transport schemes and the implementation of interstate digital data exchange. This includes, in particular, various platforms for the electronic exchange of transport documents and permits, as well as the digitalisation of all import-export and transit operations with the provision of unified digital access to this data.

According to research by experts from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), due to insufficient digital coordination, Middle Corridor routes still face challenges related to limited multimodality and containerisation, while the level of integrated digital services in regional logistics remains insufficient. In an effort to overcome this lag, all Caspian region states are currently implementing national strategies by introducing advanced digitalisation models.

For instance, Kazakhstan plans to intensify this work. Speaking at a recent meeting on the implementation of presidential directives in the field of transit and transport development in Kazakhstan, Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov emphasised the importance of strengthening communication and information connectivity along the entire length of the Middle Corridor.

“Work is underway to reduce delivery times along the TITR, to introduce through tariffs along the ‘Altynkol – Poti/Batumi’ route, and major railway infrastructure projects with a total length of 3,900 km are being implemented,” Bektenov noted, stressing the importance of integrating the route’s digital systems with partners in Azerbaijan and Georgia. In this regard, he instructed the relevant national agencies to accelerate this process.

The message expressed by the Prime Minister calls for a more detailed examination. In this context, it is worth recalling that together with key TITR partners — Astana, Ankara, and Tbilisi — Baku has been implementing a 2022–2027 Road Map for the synchronous elimination of “bottlenecks” and the development of the Middle Corridor for the fourth consecutive year.

This work is focused on improving and standardising cross-border and customs procedures, digitalising logistics, implementing unified IT solutions, and establishing digital document exchange. In particular, to optimise the operations of rail, maritime, and road transport, systems of digital labelling and electronic queuing at borders have been developed and are being introduced, along with the use of electronic navigation seals on transit cargo and special trackers on road transport.

Digital tools are also being formed for the issuance of permits and goods accompanying documents under a “single window” principle. In addition, electronic technologies are being developed for collecting and verifying information about carriers and for building their performance ratings based on cargo transportation data.

Progress in this direction is also underpinned by the integration of the information systems of the railways of Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan with the customs module of the Digital Trade Corridor (DTC ) platform — Tez Customs. Similar work is planned with the railways of Georgia.

TITR partners are also preparing to launch a “Block Digital Corridor” platform in the near future, which will integrate document flow procedures, customs clearance, and cargo tracking along the entire route into a single ecosystem.

These efforts are further reinforced by the accession of Baku and Ashgabat to the UN protocol on the electronic consignment note (e-CMR), as well as the implementation of road freight transport under the E-TIR system between Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan.

In this context, it is worth recalling that in early February this year, the heads of railway authorities of Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Georgia signed a protocol on the digitalisation and development of freight transport along the Middle Corridor, as well as on corridor diagnostics. The key objective of the document is to enhance the competitiveness of the Middle Corridor, optimise transit transshipment processes, and increase cargo volumes along this route.

A crucial step in this direction is the full digitalisation of freight operations and their coordinated regional management.

Azerbaijan is recognised as a leader in the South Caucasus and the wider Caspian region in the field of digitalisation of transport and transit logistics. Among the first in the region, the country introduced digital mechanisms, including the e-Customs platform within the State Customs Committee (SCC). Thanks to modern digital solutions for risk assessment and electronic data within the simplified “Green Corridor” clearance system, the SCC was able to reduce physical inspections of goods by more than 70%, while increasing the throughput capacity of customs checkpoints more than threefold.

The development of digital logistics serves as a key driver of modernisation processes within Azerbaijan Railways CJSC, the Azerbaijan Caspian Shipping Company (ASCO), as well as the country’s seaports and air cargo terminals, among others.

Further digitalisation and integration of logistics and customs mechanisms is supported by the decree issued in December 2025 by President Ilham Aliyev, which envisages the creation of a “Single Window” information system and the improvement of the state mechanism for regulating foreign trade.

Azerbaijan’s success in this field is also reflected in the assessments of former Uzbek Foreign Minister Vladimir Norov, published about a month ago.

According to him, the TITR is becoming one of the key trade routes of Eurasia; however, its future relevance will depend not only on the construction of new railways and the expansion of ports, but also on the level of digitalisation. The expert noted that the main problems of Eurasian logistics — border delays, congestion, and fragmented customs regimes — cannot be solved solely through the development of physical infrastructure. Instead, digitalisation and AI-based logistics will determine whether the corridor can become globally competitive.

Along the TITR route, there is growing demand for unified real-time cargo tracking mechanisms, harmonisation and synchronisation of data between countries, AI-based predictive logistics tools, risk analysis systems, and common digital standards.

There is also a need to develop interoperable “digital twins” of key ports and terminals — Alat, Aktau, Kuryk, and Poti — to enable capacity planning and modelling of different operational scenarios.

“Azerbaijan is leading this transformation by investing in intelligent systems at the Alat port, digital customs services, and AI-supported planning tools on the Baku–Tbilisi–Kars railway and within its expanding multimodal network,” noted Norov.

According to him, container transport volumes at the Baku International Sea Trade Port increased by 40% in 2025, partly due to the implementation of digital workflow systems. In turn, Azerbaijan Railways CJSC increased container train traffic along the China–Europe route by 34% through the use of intelligent planning tools.

A logical continuation of this work could be the establishment of a regional AI hub in Azerbaijan (MC-AICM), and, as the expert noted, this initiative would contribute to accelerating the digital integration of logistics processes among the countries participating in the Middle Corridor.