BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 5. Expansion of the role and significance of the Middle Corridor is possible if several measures are implemented, candidate of the philosophical sciences, expert political scientist, and senior researcher of the Institute of State and Law of the Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan Ravshan Nazarov told Trend.
"Currently, the Middle Corridor plays a certain role in ensuring interregional trade between the states of Central Asia and the South Caucasus, which is still small, amounting to 6-7 percent of the total volumes. But, on the other hand, it shows that there is significant potential here, allowing us to hope for the expansion of diversification in regional trade," he said.
The expert suggested several measures that could help expand the role and importance of the Middle Corridor.
"It is necessary to create an interstate expert group. This will help to work out a concept for further development of the Middle Corridor. It is also necessary to constantly coordinate the implementation of this concept with all stakeholders to ensure effective and coordinated development of the corridor," Nazarov said.
He noted that one of the important objectives is to reduce overall costs by reducing non-tariff barriers and improving infrastructure, in addition to implementing the most environmentally friendly projects possible.
"Reforms to further develop business, reduce production costs, and respond more quickly to changing market opportunities should be actively implemented. The diversification of import and export routes also plays an important role in the development of the Middle Corridor. It is necessary to intensify participation in international trade and expand cooperation with the World Trade Organization," Nazarov said.
He added that developing intraregional and interregional cooperation and improving logistics and cross-border infrastructure will help improve ties between regions and stimulate the exchange of goods and services. Besides the education and training of specialists, the comprehensive development of human capital also plays an important role in the successful development of the Middle Corridor.
To note, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) announced its intention to invest up to 1.5 billion euros in the infrastructure development of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route.
The bank expects that the current volume of investments in the Middle Corridor will be realized in the next 2–3 years.
The Middle Corridor links the container rail freight transportation networks of China and the European Union through Central Asia, the Caucasus, Türkiye, and Eastern Europe.
A multilateral multimodal transportation infrastructure links the ferry terminals of the Caspian and Black Seas with the railway systems of China, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Türkiye, Ukraine, and Poland.
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