Deputy Minister: Middle Corridor plays important role in expanding transregional cooperation

Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan are key countries participating in the Middle Corridor, which plays a very important role in expanding trans-regional cooperation, Roman Vasilenko, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan, told Report in Astana.

“Our shores are washed by the Caspian Sea, which is the center of this route. And it is no coincidence that the Middle Corridor is called the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route. This route did not appear yesterday, it replicates the route of the Great Silk Road, which existed for centuries, connecting Europe and Asia,” the Deputy Minister said.

Roman Vasilenko added that now the talk is about the revival of this route in new circumstances and conditions. According to him, against the backdrop of the events that are taking place in Ukraine, the need for this route has grown.

In this regard, the project participants continue to work on the development of the Middle Corridor and increase the throughput on the narrow sections of this highway.

“Since last year, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Türkiye, as the 4 pillar countries within this route, have been working very intensively to resolve this issue. Two meetings have already taken place at the level of foreign ministers and ministers of transport and communications of these four countries. A roadmap has been prepared. On August 12-13 this year, the Minister of Industry and Infrastructure Development of Kazakhstan Marat Karabayev visited Baku and handed over an updated version of the road map to our Azerbaijani partners in order to finalize it and, taking into account the experience of implementing the road map for almost a year, start taking further steps to develop this cooperation,” Vasilenko said.

He recalled that during the visit of the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan to Baku, a document was signed on the establishment of a logistics company for the development of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, which will allow coordinating cargo flows and tariffs, as well as ensuring the stability of these tariffs along this route.

“This is a very important step because this document will allow shippers to have the opportunity to work with one organization that will be responsible for transport throughout the territory of Kazakhstan, through the Caspian to Azerbaijan and to Georgia. Now the parties are working on the creation of such a company on equal terms, that is, the railway companies or railway administrations of the three countries will create such a structure on equal terms,” said the deputy minister.

Roman Vasilenko added that the trade turnover along the Middle Corridor has grown. In the first 6 months of 2023, deliveries along this route increased by 77% year-on-year.