BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 5. The construction of the Khorgos-Eastern Gates Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Kazakhstan was a significant step towards ensuring the smooth functioning of the Middle Corridor (Trans-Caspian International Transport Route - TITR), senior fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute, Felix K.Chang, told Trend.
Chang emphasized the high GDP of Kazakhstan among the Middle Corridor countries in providing the foundation for boosting the development of the corridor.
"Kazakhstan has had the benefit of having the second-biggest GDP among the Middle Corridor countries. That has meant it was somewhat easier for Kazakhstan to raise capital to fund the construction of more modern transportation and transshipment infrastructure to support its part of the Middle Corridor," he said.
Furthermore, according to Chang, Kazakhstan's good economic relationship with China has also made its contribution to the Middle Corridor’s development.
"After all, without Chinese commitment to using the Middle Corridor, particularly during its early years, it might not gain enough traction to become truly profitable. That being said, Kazakhstan's good economic relationship with China and new connectivity could conceivably serve other trade routes too," he added.
Overall, the foreign expert highlighted that the Middle Corridor has been important to all the countries along its route, giving them the opportunity to enter foreign markets beyond the region.
"Generally, the construction of new transportation links between countries will foster more economic cooperation and regional trade. One can see that in the increase in trade among the countries of Central Asia and the Caucasus. Moreover, as the Middle Corridor’s transportation links continue to improve and shipping costs fall, they will give the countries along the corridor far greater access to markets far beyond their region," Chang said.
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.