BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 24. The European
Investment Bank (EIB) is open to financing infrastructure and
logistics projects in Azerbaijan through EIB Global, provided they
align with European Union (EU) priorities and Azerbaijan’s
connectivity goals under the Global Gateway strategy and the EU’s
new strategic approach to the Black Sea region, Stella Renita, Head
of the EIB Regional Representation for the South Caucasus in
Tbilisi, told Trend.


Azerbaijan serves as a crucial gateway along the Middle
Corridor


Renita emphasized Azerbaijan’s key role along the Middle
Corridor, as it is part of the extended Trans-European Transport
Network (TEN-T) and the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor.


"There is significant potential for closer integration of rail,
port, and road infrastructure, which will enhance connections
between Central Asia and Europe, reduce transit times, and support
more diversified trade routes.


EIB is already involved in improving the safety of the
Baku–Beyuk Kesik rail corridor, a critical section of the Middle
Corridor, under the Facility for Eastern Partnership Investment in
Connectivity (FEPIC), financed by the EU and managed by EIB. These
initiatives have improved operational safety, shortened transit
times, reduced emissions, and ensured compliance with EU
environmental and technical standards," she said.


Renita highlighted that attracting private investment is a
central goal of the EU’s Global Gateway strategy. The EIB can
deploy financial instruments such as long-term loans, project
finance structures, blended finance, and risk-sharing mechanisms
supported by EU budget guarantees under the NDICI-Global Europe
program (the EU's main external financial instrument for
2021-2027). These tools reduce risk, improve bankability, and make
infrastructure projects more attractive to private investors.


EIB sees Azerbaijan’s potential as a hub for expanding
multimodal transport corridors


She stressed Azerbaijan’s potential to become a key transit hub
on east-west routes, strengthening multimodal connections between
Europe, the South Caucasus, and Central Asia in line with the EU’s
connectivity priorities.


"The EIB prioritizes investments that enhance the integration of
different transport modes, rail, ports, and roads, while boosting
efficiency, safety, and sustainability. Special emphasis is placed
on projects supporting low-carbon transport, regional integration,
and adherence to European technical, environmental, and operational
standards, all of which help ensure sustainable trade flows to and
from Europe," Renita noted.







The EIB promotes digital solutions to optimize
operations along the Middle Corridor


"Digitalization is also a major priority for the corridor's
efficiency.


"Digital solutions are central to the EU’s Global Gateway
strategy and serve as a critical complement to physical
infrastructure. The EIB supports the adoption of intelligent
transport systems, digital freight solutions, port information
systems, and tools that enhance data transparency, traceability,
and border procedure efficiency.


Along corridors such as the Middle Corridor, digital solutions
play a key role in removing bottlenecks, strengthening management,
and improving overall corridor performance. Any EIB involvement in
these projects will fully comply with EU digital and governance
standards and will be implemented in close cooperation with
national authorities, the European Commission, and other relevant
stakeholders," she concluded.


The Facility for Eastern Partnership Investment in Connectivity
(EPIC) is an EU-funded initiative, administered by the European
Investment Bank (EIB), offering free technical assistance and
advisory support to Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova, and
Ukraine for the development of feasible transport projects,
especially those in accordance with the EU's Trans-European
Transport Network (TEN-T). It assists these Eastern Partnership
nations in developing projects that comply with international
standards, rendering them "investment-ready" for financing from
entities such as the EIB, EBRD, and World Bank, hence enhancing
connectivity between the region and the EU.


The Middle Corridor is a transport and trade route that passes
through a number of countries in the region and connects Asia with
Europe. It serves as an alternative to the traditional Northern and
Southern corridors.


The route begins in China and passes through Central Asian
countries such as Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan. It then
crosses the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Türkiye, before
entering Europe. The Middle Corridor is a land route that bypasses
longer sea routes, connecting eastern Asia, including China, with
Europe.


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