BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 21.
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) will
continue to support maritime infrastructure and logistics
development as part of the Middle Corridor, Head of the EBRD’s Baku
Office Nataly Mouravidze said at the EU-Azerbaijan Business Forum
in Baku on Wednesday, Trend’s correspondent reports from the event.
According to her, supporting sustainable transport and regional
connectivity is a key pillar of the EBRD’s strategy for Azerbaijan,
approved in 2025 and covering a 4-year period.
She noted that the bank began financing projects related to the
Middle Corridor long before the route gained widespread
prominence.
"Specifically, the EBRD financed the acquisition of dry-cargo
vessels by the Azerbaijan Caspian Shipping Company for operation in
international waters. These vessels are used to support the Middle
Corridor.
In the future, we plan to expand our investments in maritime
infrastructure as existing capacities reach their limits," the bank
representative pointed out.
Furthermore, the EBRD has financed the expansion of the port of
Aktau in Kazakhstan and recently signed an agreement concerning a
bond issuance by Kazakhstan’s national railway company.
She also highlighted support for the development of a logistics
center and warehouse facilities within the Alat Free Economic Zone,
achieved through private-sector financing.
According to her, such investments help make transport and
logistics processes along the Middle Corridor more environmentally
sustainable.
"When assessing the efficiency of the corridor, it’s important
to consider not only the volume of goods transported or the number
of containers moved, but also the additional economic value
generated through the interaction of all key stakeholders along the
route.
This applies not only to Azerbaijan, but to all countries
situated along the Middle Corridor," she remarked.
