Middle Corridor should complement, not replace other routes — APM

The purpose of the Middle Corridor is not to displace other routes, but to create a system of reliable logistics alternatives, Christian Roeder, Managing Director of APM Terminals Poti in Georgia, said.

According to Report, he made the remarks on the sidelines of the international conference "The Role of Ports in Regional Connectivity and Strategic Cooperation" in Baku.

Roeder said discussions about the Middle Corridor, the Caucasus, Central Asia and multimodal connectivity should not be framed as replacing one route with another.

He noted that transport corridors should compete with each other because competition drives progress, while at the same time complementing one another, as resilience depends on having a range of options.

According to Roeder, a route does not need to lead every day in terms of speed or cost. If it is less competitive on price or transit time, it should compensate through stability, predictability and trust among market participants.

He added that businesses can adapt to delivery times and tariffs, but cannot effectively manage unpredictability.

Roeder also said the Middle Corridor is rooted in the history and geography of the region.

He noted that trade and cultural flows have passed along this route for centuries and said the key question today is whether the corridor can become competitive, reliable and predictable enough for businesses to choose it deliberately.