OTS Council of Elders chief highlights rising importance of Middle Corridor

Binali Yildirim, Chairman of the Council of Elders of the Organisation of Turkic States (OTS), highlighted that the significance of the Zangezur and Middle transport corridors is growing amid global instability, opening new avenues for regional cooperation.

He made the remarks at the opening ceremony of the 13th Global Baku Forum, noting that in an era of global division and polarisation, developing connectivity becomes critically important, Caliber.Az reports via local media.

Yildirim said the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR, also known as the Middle Corridor) attracts heightened interest for this reason.

“Recent global developments show that alternative routes such as the Middle and the Zangazur corridors are of undeniable importance, opening new opportunities for cooperation,” Yildirim added, emphasising that the armed conflict between Ukraine and Russia has shifted transport flow directions.

“The US conflict with Iran also affects connections. The global supply chain is currently fragile. Therefore, diversified and inclusive transport corridors are becoming increasingly important economically. Today, trade turnover between China and Europe exceeds $800 billion, approaching $1 trillion annually, with most shipments carried through the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC). This makes the Middle Corridor even more significant,” Yildirim said.

He also highlighted the OTS's role in strengthening cooperation in the transport sector.

By Jeyhun Aghazada