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 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.