BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 8. The visit of Georgian
Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development Mariam Kvrivishvili
to Ashgabat and the 5th session of the Intergovernmental
Georgian-Turkmen Commission on Economic Cooperation, held on May 7,
confirmed the further deepening of interaction between the two
countries in transport, trade, energy, and technological spheres.
During the session, the parties discussed the current state of
trade and economic relations and identified priority areas for
expansion, including the development of transport and logistics
potential, increasing freight transportation, including railway
shipments, as well as issues related to energy, the chemical
industry, and investment cooperation.
The main focus of the meeting was placed on the transport and
logistics agenda. The sides emphasized the importance of increasing
cargo volumes and expanding infrastructure cooperation, including
railway routes and multimodal chains. Coordination between
transport and infrastructure agencies was also discussed, along
with creating conditions for more active engagement of business
communities from both countries. At the end of the meeting, the
Final Protocol of the 5th session of the Intergovernmental
Commission was signed, consolidating the agreements achieved.
However, the recent session is not an isolated diplomatic event.
It was preceded by a series of processes and negotiations that are
effectively shaping a new geoeconomic configuration across the
Caspian and Black Sea regions.
In recent weeks, Tbilisi has intensified negotiations around the
development of the Middle Corridor - a route connecting China,
Central Asia, the Caspian region, the South Caucasus, and Europe.
One of the key elements of these discussions was Georgia’s
engagement with China. On April 24, Mariam Kvrivishvili, leading
the Georgian delegation in Beijing, discussed the development of
the Middle Corridor and the strategic role of the Black Sea
deep-sea port of Anaklia with Zhou Haibin, Vice Chairman of China’s
National Development and Reform Commission. Tbilisi considers
Anaklia one of the key logistics hubs of future Eurasian
transit.
At the same time, Georgian authorities are advancing the
modernization of domestic transport infrastructure. On May 5,
“Georgian Railway” presented its “historic renewal” project, which
foresees a large-scale reconstruction of the country’s railway
system. On May 6, construction works on the deep-sea port of
Anaklia officially began, with the participation of Mariam
Kvrivishvili.
Thus, by the time of the delegation’s arrival in Ashgabat,
Georgia already had a comprehensive strategy aimed at transforming
the country into one of the central transit hubs of the Middle
Corridor.
Against this backdrop, Turkmenistan is becoming increasingly
important for Georgia. It is one of the key Caspian participants in
the route connecting Central Asia with the South Caucasus and
further with Europe. The implementation of such an architecture
requires close coordination of transport, port, customs, and
logistics infrastructure between Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, and
Georgia.
As previously noted in Trend’s analytical article “Turkmenistan pushes
West via Georgia - with Azerbaijan as linchpin,” Azerbaijan
plays a key connecting role between the Caspian and the Black Sea.
Transport routes and a significant share of future energy and
logistics projects within the Middle Corridor pass through
Azerbaijani infrastructure.
Speaking in Baku on April 2, Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of
Ministers of Turkmenistan Nokerguly Atagulyyev stated that Ashgabat
attaches “special importance” to the East-West transport corridor
and emphasized the significance of the Trans-Caspian International
Transport Route, the Caspian-Black Sea direction, and routes
connecting Central Asia with the Middle East. According to him, the
development of these corridors opens “new opportunities for trade
growth and cooperation expansion.”
On April 3, a series of Azerbaijan-Turkmenistan meetings took
place in Baku with the participation of Nokerguly Atagulyyev.
During talks with Azerbaijan’s Minister of Economy Mikayil Jabbarov
and Minister of Digital Development and Transport Rashad Nabiyev,
the sides discussed expanding cooperation in energy, transport,
logistics, and transit. Particular attention was given to
multimodal transportation via the Baku International Sea Trade Port
and the Port of Turkmenbashi, digitalization of transport
operations, and increasing cargo flows along the Middle Corridor.
At the same time, Azerbaijani Prime Minister Ali Asadov stated that
in 2025, transit transportation along the Middle Corridor increased
by almost 11%, reaching 5 million tons.
The above indicates that amid growing global interest in
alternative Eurasian routes, Azerbaijan’s role as a central transit
hub between these two countries continues to strengthen.
For Georgia, closer ties with Turkmenistan open opportunities to
increase cargo flows through its ports, strengthen its position as
a Black Sea logistics hub, and expand cooperation with Central
Asia.
Moreover, Tbilisi aims to solidify its role as one of the key
infrastructure partners of the EU and China within the Middle
Corridor. The development of Anaklia, modernization of railways,
and expansion of transport capacities are directly linked to this
strategy.
For Turkmenistan, cooperation with Georgia is also becoming
increasingly important. Ashgabat is interested in diversifying
external trade routes, expanding access to the Black Sea direction,
and strengthening transit links with European markets. At the same
time, the Middle Corridor format allows Turkmenistan to integrate
more actively into regional trade without abandoning its
traditional policy of neutrality.
Additional interest lies in cooperation in digital economy,
financial services, banking interaction, and technological
platforms. Amid growing trade volumes and logistics integration,
the sides are increasingly discussing mechanisms for simplifying
settlements, coordinating customs procedures, and digitizing
transit operations.
In this context, the recent session of the Intergovernmental
Commission in Ashgabat may mark an important stage in the further
deepening of Georgian-Turkmen cooperation across multiple strategic
areas - from trade to digital economy and infrastructure
integration within the Middle Corridor.
Energy issues also gain particular importance in this context.
The question previously addressed by Trend in the article “Eurasia’s gas balance:
How Galkynysh could reshape supply routes” is becoming
increasingly relevant amid the launch of the “Galkynysh” field
development on April 17 and Europe’s continued interest in
alternative gas sources.
The sides may also explore cooperation in digital economy, high
technologies, and the agro-industrial sector, including the
introduction of technological solutions in agriculture and
logistics. As special attention during the session was given to
strengthening business-to-business contacts and preparing
conditions for joint investment projects, it is expected that
reciprocal business delegations will be organized in the near
future to further develop practical areas of cooperation.
Within these visits, one of the relevant areas of mutual
cooperation and experience exchange may become financial and
banking cooperation. Georgia already has experience in expanding
its financial institutions into Central Asian markets - in
particular, TBC Bank is actively operating in Uzbekistan.
The Georgian financial system has already established itself as
being well integrated into international capital markets: in early
May, Minister Mariam Kvrivishvili participated in a London Stock
Exchange ceremony marking the inclusion of Bank of Georgia (part of
Lion Finance Group) in the FTSE 100 index - the main UK stock index
comprising the 100 largest companies by market capitalization
listed on the LSE. This made Bank of Georgia the first company from
the country to enter the FTSE 100, signaling strong investor
confidence in Georgia’s financial sector.
Overall, the recent session of the Commission represents a
logical continuation of the growing convergence between Georgia and
Turkmenistan. Given the accumulated momentum of political contacts,
rising trade volumes, and parallel infrastructure developments in
the region, the reached agreements are expected to gradually move
into the practical phase. Future relations are likely to develop
through regular meetings and reciprocal visits, including greater
involvement of business communities from both countries.
