SAMARKAND, Uzbekistan, September 25. Azerbaijan plays a pivotal role in integrating the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route - the Middle Corridor, Deputy Minister of Transport of Uzbekistan Jasurbek Choriev, told Trend.
"Our partnership with Azerbaijan has reached a new level, as the country is key to the integration of the Middle Corridor and the involvement of other nations looking to strengthen trade and economic ties with Europe. All the major transport routes pass through Azerbaijan, and we’re fully aware of its strategic importance. Thanks to this, we’ve secured significant agreements that enable us to maximize benefits in the transport sector, particularly in land transport, as a large volume of transit goods moves through Azerbaijan’s territory," Choriev said on the sidelines of the annual meeting of the Board of Governors of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) in Samarkand.
He added that joint investments by Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan in the logistics of the Middle Corridor will help link transport hubs across the wider region. "If we only focus on advancing technologies and infrastructure in one region without doing the same elsewhere, it won’t have the desired impact. To connect these transport hubs effectively, joint investments in the Middle Corridor are crucial, which is a key outcome of our recent agreements".
"The Middle Corridor heavily relies on railways, where sea routes transition to rail transport, working seamlessly in a multimodal logistics system. While many view this route as challenging due to cost concerns and increased transit times when switching between transport modes, recent investments in ports, IT systems, and standardization by our partners are improving cooperation. In Uzbekistan, we’re also looking into shipbuilding and joint infrastructure use. Despite the challenges posed by the Caspian climate, there’s a strong need to keep expanding traffic volumes through the Middle Corridor," he explained.
Choriev also mentioned that Baku and Tashkent are currently discussing the introduction of electronic permits for road transport.
"Our Azerbaijani colleagues recently visited Uzbekistan, and we’re working closely with the customs committee since digitalization in this area isn’t possible without their involvement. The cooperation between different organizations is helping us implement digital solutions. Right now, we’re in talks to establish a system for exchanging electronic permits for road transport, allowing carriers to obtain the necessary documents electronically or at checkpoints," the deputy minister said.