Official: Zangezur Corridor to open new global trade routes for Azerbaijan

Director of the Strategic Planning and Development Department at the Baku International Sea Trade Port Khudayar Hasanli has said that the Zangezur Corridor is set to greatly expand Azerbaijan’s access to international markets.

Hasanli made the remarks during the first session of the National Business Development Forum in Baku, which focused on transport infrastructure development, Caliber.Az reports per local media.

"Once the Zangezur Corridor is opened, we will gain direct access to the Mediterranean Sea through Turkey," Hasanli said.

"The largest Turkish ports—Mersin and Istanbul—will offer optimal trade routes to North Africa and Southern Europe."

He also highlighted the corridor’s importance for regional trade, particularly for Central Asia.

"Countries in Central Asia export around 8 million tons of fertilizers each year. With the launch of the Zangezur Corridor, a significant portion of those exports will be routed through Azerbaijan," Hasanli added. 

The Zangezur Corridor is a proposed transport route designed to connect Azerbaijan’s mainland with its exclave, the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, bypassing through Armenia’s Syunik Province. Strongly backed by Azerbaijan and Türkiye, the project is a major infrastructure initiative aimed at improving regional connectivity. However, it also remains a highly contentious issue, with Armenia and Iran firmly in opposition. The corridor is further entangled in broader geopolitical dynamics involving Russia and other global players. The envisioned forty-three-kilometer corridor would traverse Armenia’s Syunik region, serving as a vital connection between Horadiz in Azerbaijan and Nakhchivan. 

On Azerbaijan’s side, the corridor would be integrated into the Horadiz-Aghband transport highway and railway network. On Türkiye’s side, it would link into the Nakhchivan-Igdir-Kars railway and highway, providing a direct land route to Anatolia and beyond. Azerbaijan has already made significant progress in developing its portion of the infrastructure, constructing modern highways and railway lines that extend to the Armenian border. The project is strategically aligned with Azerbaijan’s broader efforts to enhance regional trade routes and integrate its exclave with the national economy. In contrast, Armenia has not undertaken any related construction efforts and remains opposed to the corridor.

By Naila Huseynova