Turkic states push to make Middle Corridor faster, cheaper – OTS chief

The Organisation of Turkic States (OTS) is working to bring down transit costs and shorten delays along the Middle Corridor, OTS Secretary General Kubanychbek Omuraliev said.

Addressing the Second International Conference of Leading National Analytical Centres of the OTS in Baku, Omuraliev outlined a broader vision for regional trade, stressing that economic cooperation should not be measured solely by rising trade volumes. Instead, the focus should be on creating a system that enables goods to move more quickly and efficiently while expanding digitalisation and diversification and delivering greater benefits to businesses and communities across the region, Caliber.Az reports via local media.

He pointed to the “Turkic World Vision 2040” as a key framework for advancing this agenda, saying it sets out a path toward deeper economic integration, stronger connectivity and institutions, greater investment in knowledge-based industries, and sustainable and inclusive growth.

Transport and logistics connectivity, he added, remains the organisation’s foremost priority, with particular emphasis on the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, or Middle Corridor.

Omuraliev described the route as having the potential to serve as a major platform for long-term economic cooperation among Turkic states and a strategic link connecting Asia with Europe through the Turkic region.

At the same time, he stressed that expanding physical infrastructure alone would not be enough to unlock the corridor’s full potential. Ports, railways, roads and logistics centres need to be backed by common standards, AI-based border procedures, coordinated tariff policies and digital customs mechanisms.

In this regard, the OTS is pursuing projects including a simplified customs corridor, e-Permit, e-CMR and Digital Cargo. According to Omuraliev, their implementation could help cut both transit times and costs while reinforcing confidence among traders and investors.

He also drew attention to renewable energy as another key area shaping the future economic development of Turkic countries.

“Energy security, the green transition and sustainable infrastructure are vital for our climate resilience and economic growth,” he said, adding that joint efforts in renewable energy, green finance and climate-resilient technologies could generate further opportunities for economic expansion.

By Jeyhun Aghazada