The development of the Middle Corridor and stimulation of transit through the port of Turkmenbashi will contribute to the growth of the economies of Central Asian countries and strengthening their position in the world market, Chairman of Turkmendenizderyayollary (Turkmen Sea and River Routes) Batyr Annaev said.
According to Report, Annaev was speaking during the second meeting of the Transport Coordination Committee of the Organization of Turkic States in Budapest. The meeting participants focused on measures to simplify transport and transit operations along the Trans-Caspian International East-West Corridor (Middle Corridor), digitalization of transportation procedures, and improvement of multimodal connectivity.
He noted that Turkmenistan is taking active steps to increase the load on the Turkmenbashi port. Various measures to stimulate transit are being considered, including the provision of benefits on port fees and discounts on maritime transport. Regular ferries run between Turkmenbashi and Baku, and dry cargo ships provide feeder transportation.
The "customs warehouse" mode in the port of Turkmenbashi makes it possible to store goods without paying customs duties for up to 3 years. These opportunities are open to all participating countries, the head of the agency said.
According to Annaev, the international seaport of Turkmenbashi has the opportunity to become one of the main logistics centers of the entire Central Asian region. The Turkmenbashi port complex includes ferry, passenger, container, cargo and other terminals, as well as a shipbuilding and ship repair plant.
"It plays an important role in the transit system of Central Asia, being a link in the East-West corridor. With a throughput capacity of 17 million tons per year, the port is capable of processing the entire range of goods in demand in the region. Regular cargo transportation is carried out along the route Turkmenbashi - ports of the Caspian states," he added.
Annaev emphasized that against the backdrop of geopolitical events in the world and volatility in the market of traditional Central Asian export goods (fertilizers, chemicals and petroleum products), cargo transportation routes are changing.
"The most in demand for goods from Asia and China are North (via Russia), Middle (Turkmenistan-Azerbaijan-Georgia-Europe) and South (via the Red Sea). In early 2024, political events in the Red Sea and other regions led to sharp growth in prices for transporting goods to Europe. In this regard, the importance of the Middle Corridor between the Caspian and Black Seas is increasing and the joint efforts of the countries participating in the project to develop it opens up broad prospects," Annaev said.