BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 15. The Middle Corridor
has a real potential to better connect the region of the
Organization of Turkic States (OTS) with global trade flows, OTS
Secretary General Kubanychbek Omuraliyev said in an exclusive
interview with Trend ahead of the Informal Summit of the
organization in Turkistan, Kazakhstan.


“Indeed, the Middle Corridor is becoming more and more important
in today’s global context. As supply chains are being reshaped,
countries are looking not only for faster routes, but also for more
reliable and diversified options. In this sense, the Middle
Corridor is emerging as a very practical link between Asia and
Europe. For us, its development remains a key priority under the
Turkic World Vision 2040. It is one of the shortest overland routes
between East and West and has real potential to better connect our
region with global trade flows,” he said.


At the same time, the OTS secretary general pointed out that
infrastructure alone is not enough.


“What really matters is coordination between countries and how
efficiently the system works in practice. That is why we are
focusing on both strengthening connectivity and simplifying
operations along the route. A good example is the
China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway, which is expected to
significantly increase capacity and improve transit efficiency,
with volumes reaching up to 15 million tons annually,” noted
Omuraliyev.


He said that strong emphasis is also placed on digitalization in
customs and logistics.







“Azerbaijan and other member states have been successfully
implementing systems such as ePermit (electronic transport
permits), eCMR (electronic consignment notes), and eTIR (electronic
customs transit system), making international shipments faster,
simpler, and more transparent. A key milestone in this regard was
the adoption of the regional roadmap for the full implementation of
eTIR at the OTS Heads of Customs Meeting in Baku in January 2025,
as well as the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on the
implementation of eCMR in April 2026 by the ministries responsible
for transport of the OTS Member States,” noted the OTS secretary
general.


Omuraliyev belives that together with the decisions taken at the
Samarkand Summit in 2022 on simplifying customs procedures and
international freight transport, these efforts are steadily making
the Middle Corridor more efficient and predictable.


“Over time, this is what will ensure its role as a truly
competitive and reliable route for all partners involved,” he
added.