Middle Corridor gains momentum: Azerbaijan strengthens role in Asia-Europe trade network PHOTO

ADY Express LLC, a subsidiary of Azerbaijan Railways CJSC (ADY), has signed important documents regarding the Middle Corridor at the Logitrans Türkiye 2024 exhibition in Istanbul, Türkiye.

One key document is a memorandum of strategic partnership with Neptune Logistics, a company based in China's Shenzhen, Caliber.Az reports via local media.

This agreement aims to further develop collaborative relations and expand block train freight transportation services between China and Europe.

In addition, ADY Express signed a protocol with Pasifik Eurasia to enhance freight transportation in both directions along the Middle Corridor via the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railroad. Under this protocol, block trains will depart from Istanbul to Azerbaijan, Central Asia, and China every Friday, while trains will leave Alyat station for Turkey every Wednesday. “Block trains will run regularly, which will significantly increase the efficiency of freight transportation on the route,” ADY Express stated.

The Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), commonly known as the Middle Corridor, serves as a crucial link between China and European countries, traversing Kazakhstan, the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Türkiye. As an integral part of the Belt and Road Initiative, it provides a direct transport route from Asia to Europe, fostering trade and economic cooperation through a network of railways, highways, and maritime routes.

Azerbaijan's strategic position as a bridge between Europe and Asia highlights its vital role in the success of the TITR. The country has actively worked to develop and diversify its infrastructure across energy, transportation, and communications, undertaking significant global projects such as the Zangezur Corridor, the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway, the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum gas pipeline, the Southern Gas Corridor, and the TANAP and TAP projects.

As a central transit hub for goods travelling from China and Central Asia to Europe via the Caspian Sea and South Caucasus, the TITR not only facilitates trade but also serves as a strategic corridor linking Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Türkiye, extending into European markets.

By Tamilla Hasanova