Central Asian, Georgian FMs discuss Middle Corridor development

Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan

BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 23. Central Asian states and Georgia discussed key measures to enhance the development and competitiveness of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR, or the Middle Corridor), according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan.

The discussions took place during a meeting of the Foreign Ministers of Central Asian states and Georgia, held at the invitation of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia Maka Botchorishvili, with the participation of Kazakh Foreign Minister Mukhtar Tileuberdi.

Special attention during the meeting was focused on boosting the Middle Corridor's competitiveness by modernizing transport infrastructure, accelerating the digitalization of freight shipping, and simplifying transit and customs procedures between Asia and Europe.

The ministers praised the strong cooperation among the six participating states and highlighted their shared approaches to regional stability, sustainable development, and interregional trade. Addressing the participants, the Kazakh side emphasized that coordinated efforts across Central Asia and the South Caucasus are essential to unlock the region's full transport and transit capacity, attract investment, and provide seamless access to global markets.

Furthermore, the foreign ministers conducted a substantive exchange of views on current international issues. As part of the program, Mukhtar Tileuberdi and his counterparts visited and inspected the capabilities of the Batumi Sea Port, a key Kazakh logistics asset in Georgia operating along the Trans-Caspian route.

The Middle Corridor is a multimodal trade and transport route connecting Asia and Europe through Central Asia, the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Türkiye. The route begins in China and runs through Central Asia before crossing the Caspian Sea and continuing through Azerbaijan, Georgia and Türkiye to European markets.