Tajikistan's role in Middle Corridor becoming more practical, envoy says

Tajikistan's participation in the development of the Middle Corridor is becoming more stable and practical in nature, Ilkhom Abdurakhmon, the country's Ambassador to Azerbaijan, has stated.

In an interview with Report, he said Tajikistan considers the Middle Corridor a strategic priority in its transport and foreign economic policy, creating new prospects for expanding cooperation with Azerbaijan.

The ambassador noted that his country is consistently advancing the development of its transport and logistics network under the State Program for the Development of the Logistics System for 2023–2028.

According to Abdurakhmon, the programme envisages the establishment of regional and international logistics hubs, the expansion of transport infrastructure, and measures aimed at lowering freight transportation costs.

"Overall, Tajikistan's participation in the development of the Middle Corridor is becoming more stable and practical in nature, which opens additional opportunities for expanding bilateral cooperation with Azerbaijan - primarily in the areas of digitalization of transport processes, development of joint logistics solutions, and improving the efficiency of transit chains between Central Asia, the Caspian region, and the South Caucasus," the diplomat added.

He further stressed that transport and logistics cooperation between Tajikistan and Azerbaijan is gaining momentum through closer coordination between the relevant authorities on digitalising transport services and streamlining transit routes.

Among the initiatives underway, Abdurakhmon highlighted efforts to introduce electronic permits for international road transport, which are expected to reduce paperwork and accelerate cross-border transit.

He also pointed to ongoing work to strengthen digital integration between the two countries' transport systems through data exchange between information platforms, the introduction of "single window" mechanisms, and the use of real-time cargo tracking technologies.

The ambassador emphasised that both countries are also focused on improving the efficiency of transport and logistics corridors while expanding practical cooperation with the Baku International Sea Trade Port.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov