BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 31. Traffic along the Middle Corridor has already almost tripled since it started operations, European Commission official told Trend.
The official noted that traffic along the previously dominant Northern Corridor between Asia/China and Europe through Russia has dropped significantly this year, with operators switching to more reliable alternative routes, such as the Middle Corridor through Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey/Black Sea.
“Traffic along the Middle Corridor has already almost tripled since it started operations (in 2017) and is expected to further double by the end of this year, despite increased volumes exposing also significant capacity shortages,” the official said.
In their words, identifying and solving key issues and bottlenecks on this route would greatly facilitate Europe-Asia transport links, as well as prepare the ground for increased trade and transport links between the countries of Central Asia, Azerbaijan, and Turkey.
“The EU’s ongoing study as well as international coordination efforts among the corridor countries (e.g. the Joint Venture between Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey, announced in May 2022) will certainly contribute to this effort. Besides the Middle Corridor, there are also other connections planned in other Central Asian countries which must be taken into account as well,” they noted.
The official pointed out that it is important that the development of transport connections between Europe and Central Asia through the Caucasus contribute to sustainable economic development of the entire region, which is of key importance in the EU’s approach to regional connectivity, as well as a key element of the EU’s ongoing study on Central Asia.