BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 19. Improving the
reliability, predictability and operational efficiency of the
Middle Corridor is essential to attracting more investors and cargo
operators to the trade route, according to a senior official at the
Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), Trend's correspondent
reports from the event.


Speaking at the 14th Islamic Development Bank Group Private
Sector Forum in Baku, AIIB Director General Xiaohong Yang said
countries along the corridor have already begun taking steps to
enhance transport efficiency, but additional improvements are
needed.


"Infrastructure and operational efficiency remain key
challenges," Yang said. "The most important thing for us is the
reliability and predictability of the route."


She noted that these factors are increasingly influencing
decisions by investors and shippers considering the corridor as an
alternative trade route between Asia and Europe.


According to Yang, cargo transit times along the Middle Corridor
have been reduced from about one month to 18 days in recent years,
though she said further reductions would help strengthen the
route's competitiveness.


Yang also highlighted Azerbaijan's efforts to modernize its
transportation infrastructure, citing the activities of the
Azerbaijan Caspian Shipping Company (ASCO) and other government
agencies.


During a recent visit to ASCO, she said she was impressed by
plans to modernize the company's fleet, expand port capacity and
develop digital platforms to improve logistics operations.







"I was also impressed by the level of coordination with
Kazakhstan aimed at strengthening regional supply chains," Yang
said.


The AIIB official stressed that developing Middle Corridor
projects will require a comprehensive financing framework that
combines public investment, state-owned enterprise participation
and blended finance mechanisms.


Support instruments such as grants and blended financing can
play an important role during the project preparation stage, she
said.


"Successful implementation of initiatives requires a combination
of sovereign financing, guarantee instruments, credit support and
other financial mechanisms," Yang added.


She noted that the long-term success of infrastructure projects
depends not only on financing but also on strong institutions and a
modern transportation network.


The Middle Corridor, also known as the Trans-Caspian
International Transport Route, connects China and Central Asia with
Europe through the Caspian Sea, the South Caucasus and Türkiye.