Georgian Economy Minister highlights importance of 'Middle Corridor', Georgia's role in it at Turkey ministerial
Georgian Economy Minister Natia Turnava has spoke at a meeting of delegations from Georgia, Azerbaijan, Turkey and Kazakhstan, held within the Ministerial of Transport in Turkey. Photo: Ministry of Economy.
Tweet 
Share
Georgian Economy Minister Natia Turnava has spoke at a meeting of delegations from Georgia, Azerbaijan, Turkey and Kazakhstan, held within the Ministerial of Transport in Turkey today and drew attention to the progress made in making the Trans-Caspian East-West Middle Corridor operational and Georgia's role as a regional transport hub in it.
The Trans-Caspian East-West-Middle Corridor, shortly named as the 'Middle Corridor', begins in Turkey and passes through the Caucasus region via Georgia, Azerbaijan, crosses the Caspian Sea, traverses Central Asia and reaches China. It passes by rail and road through Georgia, Azerbaijan and Caspian Sea, (crossing the Caspian transit corridor) and reaches China by following the Turkmenistan-Uzbekistan-Kyrgyzstan or Kazakhstan route.
At the ministerial Turnava focused on the growing dynamics of container traffic in the Middle Corridor, saying that last year the turnover of containers from China through Georgia increased 12.9% compared to 2019, while for January-August 2021 growth was 268% year-on-year.
She also said that the number of containers transported on the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway is growing steadily.
In particular, an increase of 56.4% was recorded in the first eight months of 2021", said Turnava.
At the ministerial the delegations from Georgia, Turkey, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan discussed how to make the Middle Corridor more competitive in the face of global competition. Photo: Ministry of Economy.
Turnava said that Georgia's role in the corridor is very important. She said that for decades, Georgia has been actively involved in various interconnection initiatives, including TRACECA, the Middle Corridor, the Black Sea-Caspian Sea Corridor, which aims to develop efficient, short and reliable transport routes between Europe and Asia.
She said that Georgia has actively been developing transport infrastructure and brought as an example the projects of Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway, the East-West Highway and the development of port infrastructure in the country.
Turnava mentioned the Anaklia Deep Sea Port project which is planned to be developed near the Black Sea Anaklia resort in western Georgia and said that the government will announce a tender for the development of the project. She also said that expansion of Poti port and the development of logistics centers by attracting private investors is 'on our agenda'.
At the ministerial the delegations from Georgia, Turkey, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan discussed how to make the Middle Corridor more competitive in the face of global competition. Turnava said she would welcome the establishment of a joint working group to further increase the effectiveness of the corridor and improve transport links.
The EU Delegation to Georgia has briefly summarised cooperation with the Maritime Transport Agency of Georgia which aims to further develop the maritime sector of the country on the occasion of World Maritime Day.
Georgian and Azerbaijani Prime Ministers Irakli Garibashvili and Ali Asadov have pledged to deepen their countries’ economic ties at the inter-governmental economic commission session held in Baku earlier today. PM Garibashvili said Azerbaijan is not only a friend and a neighbor of Georgia, but one of the main strategic partners as well.
The audit results of the International Port Security Programme shows that the United States considers Georgia a safe maritime trading partner, and the cargo and ships handled in Georgian ports are known to be safe in US ports, announces the Georgian Maritime Transport Agency.
Silk Way West Airlines, an Azerbaijani cargo airline, will launch cargo flights from the US city of Chicago to the Georgian capital of Tbilisi and Azerbaijani capital of Baku today, announces Georgian Economy Minister Natia Turnava.
The Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development Natia Turnava is paying an official visit to Azerbaijan. During the meeting with her Azerbaijani counterpart Mikayil Jabbarov, Minister Turnava noted that Azerbaijan remains one of Georgia’s main trading partners.
Georgian Minister of Economy Natia Turnava met with Turkish Trade Minister Mehmet Mus during the Georgia-Azerbaijan-Turkey Business Forum held in Baku, stating that Turkey is the top trading partner for the country.
Georgia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) signed an agreement on starting free trade negotiation during Dubai Expo 2020 earlier today, the Georgian Economy Ministry reports.
A quadrilateral declaration on the Trans-Caspian East-West Middle Corridor has been signed by Georgia, Azerbaijan, Turkey and Kazakhstan, with the agreement emphasising the importance of steps to strengthen the transit potential of the signatory states, the Economy Ministry announced on Thursday.
Natia Turnava, the former Georgian Economy Minister, has been elected to the Board of the National Bank of Georgia following a vote in the Parliament, the country’s legislative body announced on Tuesday.
A delegation from Georgian Railway joined counterparts from Turkey, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Romania on Sunday in the Kazakh port city of Aktau to discuss the project of the Middle Corridor of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, aimed to connect supply chains and logistics between China and Europe.