BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 20. The Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR, or Middle Corridor) is more than a trade diversification initiative for Azerbaijan; it is a project that turns the country into a central transit hub, promising a significant boost to Azerbaijan's economy, the article by expert and analyst from Strategy International Ltd (SI) Robert Cutler, said, Trend reports.
The article is titled "Trans-Caspian Corridor boosts trade and economic growth between Asia and Europe".
"Azerbaijan, due to its strategic location and developed infrastructure, actually stands at the crossroads connecting Central Asia (CA) and Europe. The country is actively engaging with international financial institutions to capitalize on this unique position, improve the efficiency of TITR, and strengthen transport links. This approach even goes beyond TITR, as it includes CA countries not directly involved in the corridor, such as Uzbekistan. This approach demonstrates Azerbaijan's desire to serve as a vital link in the region as a whole. It is quite a promising approach, and it is backed by strategic investments (in port and railroad facilities) and international support," Cutler believes.
According to him, Azerbaijan's participation in TITR will strengthen its central role in Eurasian logistics.
"This, in turn, will allow Baku to use its geographical advantages for broader economic development and integration, as well as for the expansion of regional ties and diversification of the economy," the article noted.
Cutler reminded that in November 2023, the UN Special Program for the Economies of Central Asia (SPECA) celebrated its 25th anniversary precisely in Baku, which demonstrated its commitment to strengthening cooperation between the countries of Central Asia, Afghanistan, and Azerbaijan to allow them to integrate more into the world economy.
"SPECA's anniversary was celebrated in Baku in November 2023 with a transport forum and working group meetings on trade, culminating in a summit of SPECA Heads of State on November 24. These meetings underscored Azerbaijan's crucial role in expanding interconnectivity with Central Asia and highlighted a shared strategic vision, especially between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan, to boost the energy, transport, and communications sectors," the article stressed.
He said Azerbaijan enjoys every opportunity to formulate its vision of becoming a central hub for Eurasian transportation and logistics.
"This vision includes not only the development of logistics infrastructure but also rethinking the region's economic corridors through the development of TITR to overcome the inherent logistical problems and high costs in the CA region," the expert's article added.
The Middle Corridor is a transportation and trade route that connects Asia and Europe, passing through several countries in the region. It is an alternative route to the traditional Northern Corridor and Southern Corridor.
The route starts in China and crosses Central Asian countries such as Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan. It then passes through the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Türkiye before reaching Europe.
The Middle Corridor offers a land route that connects the eastern parts of Asia, including China, with Europe, bypassing the longer maritime routes.
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