BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 2. The declining
water level and shallowing of the Caspian Sea could pose a serious
challenge to the sustainability of the Middle Corridor and
transportation costs for Azerbaijan and other countries in the
region, Director of the TALAP Center for Applied Research and
Kazakhstan member of the CAMCA Network Rahim Oshakbayev said Friday
at the CAMCA Regional Forum, Trend’s correspondent reports from the event.


He said the condition of the Caspian Sea is one of the issues
requiring particular attention as Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan
cooperate on the development of the Middle Corridor.


“One of the key issues we are currently discussing with
Azerbaijan is the challenge related to the Caspian Sea. Over the
past 20 years, since 2001, the coastline in the northern part of
the Caspian Sea has retreated by up to 56 kilometers. Over the past
five years, the shallowing process has accelerated, reaching about
30 centimeters per year,” Oshakbayev said.


According to him, continued declines in the Caspian Sea water
level could become one of the factors directly affecting the
operation of the Middle Corridor.


“If this process continues, the sustainability of the Middle
Corridor and its operating costs could become a major challenge for
the countries of the region. Therefore, the condition of the
Caspian Sea is an important factor that needs to be taken into
account in the long-term development of the Middle Corridor,” he
said.


Oshakbayev also emphasized that the Middle Corridor has
developed significantly in recent years.


“This is a favorable period for the Middle Corridor. Over the
past two years, cargo transportation volumes along this route have
increased more than 2.3-fold. This is a major achievement.
Kazakhstan’s freight and logistics sector is also seeing very rapid
growth,” he said.







At the same time, the expert noted that the Middle Corridor
still has greater potential in the global freight transportation
system.


According to him, about 88 percent of overland freight
transportation between China and Europe is still carried out along
the route passing through Russia, Belarus and Poland.


“For Kazakhstan, the Middle Corridor is important in terms of
diversifying transportation routes. At the same time, it is
essential to ensure the long-term sustainability of this route,”
Oshakbayev added.


He also said economic growth in the CAMCA region has been high
in recent years, although part of this growth has been driven by
new opportunities created by global and regional crises.


“The average rate of economic growth in the region is more than
twice the average growth rate of the global economy. Countries such
as Kyrgyzstan and Armenia have recorded growth of more than 12
percent. In Kazakhstan, average growth is above 6 percent. At the
same time, high oil prices have also affected economic indicators,”
he said.


Oshakbayev noted that one of the key issues for countries in the
region is to use the opportunities that have emerged to ensure
long-term and sustainable economic development.