WCO Secretary General highlights Middle Corridor’s role in uninterrupted trade between Asia, Europe, East, West

Secretary General of the World Customs Organisation (WCO) Kunio Mikuriya has said that at present, there is a great need for uninterrupted trade between Asia and Europe, East and West.

Mikuriya made these remarks at a multilateral meeting on the project to simplify the transit customs procedure (Data pipeline) on the "single window" principle on the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route “East-West” in Baku, Report informs.

He noted that this need can be met by the Middle Corridor (Trans-Caspian International Transport Route) because the Middle Corridor connects Asia with Europe.

“That is why this corridor is of great importance in terms of international trade. This corridor is of great importance for the countries of the Caucasus and Central Asia in terms of investment in these regions, which will lead to their economic development and prosperity. International business circles are searching for such regions,” Mikuriya added.

The WCO secretary general said that the countries through which the corridor passes, including Azerbaijan, should simplify customs procedures.

The Trans-Caspian International Transport Route was established in February 2014 with the corresponding companies of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Georgia. Later, Ukraine, Romania and Poland joined the project. Currently, the route runs from the Chinese-Kazakh border through Kazakhstan, the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan, and Georgia to Europe.