BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 28. The Middle
Corridor has the potential to attract private investment, create
jobs and diversify the economies of participating countries.
This was stated in the World Bank report “Integration:
World-Class Trade Logistics along the Trans-Caspian Transport
Corridor.”
According to the report, the Middle Corridor is an emerging
international trade network connecting two continents and
characterized by its length, complexity and fragmentation. Its
routes run through Central and East Asia, the South Caucasus,
Türkiye and other European countries, and can extend for more than
10,000 kilometers.
“The route is a multimodal freight network combining rail, road
and short-sea shipping, as well as connections between maritime and
inland ports.
The multimodal nature of transport increases operational
complexity compared with the use of a single mode of transport.
Depending on the route, the delivery of goods from sender to
recipient involves crossing four to five national borders, two
changes of railway gauge, up to four transfers between rail and
maritime transport, as well as up to 10 procedures for entering or
exiting the customs transit regime.
Additional challenges arise from the fragmentation of the
corridor, as its operation involves numerous railway companies,
shipping lines, port and customs authorities, as well as national
and supranational bodies responsible for decision-making and
coordination,” the bank notes.
The report emphasizes that ensuring the efficient operation of
such a system is one of the most complex challenges in the
development of global logistics.
At the same time, according to the World Bank, the development
of the Middle Corridor creates significant economic opportunities
for the countries through which it passes.
“For the five Central Asian countries, the route provides
connectivity to global freight markets and can contribute to the
long-term diversification of their economies, provided that
complementary measures are implemented beyond the transport and
logistics sectors.
For Türkiye and the countries of the South Caucasus, the
corridor provides direct connectivity with the markets of Central
and East Asia, while for East Asia and the European Union, it
represents an additional route for container transportation that
can enhance supply-chain resilience, deepen regional integration
and improve logistics performance.
For all these countries, the Middle Corridor is a source of
economic activity and a potential catalyst for private investment,
job creation and cross-border cooperation,” the report says.
According to the World Bank, in the long term, the Middle
Corridor could contribute to the emergence of new economic sectors
near key transport hubs and trade flows.
The report specifically refers to agricultural processing,
mining and mineral processing, light manufacturing and digital
logistics.
The World Bank notes that, as a result, the Middle Corridor
could evolve from a transport route into a highly efficient
economic corridor.
