Freight turnover in Middle Corridor up by 30% - economy minister

Georgian economy minister Levan Davitashvili on Friday said the freight turnover in the Middle Corridor - a fast-developing land and sea freight route from Europe to China via Georgia - had increased by 30 percent this year, while cargo flow from Kazakhstan to Georgia had increased six times year-on-year.

Commenting on the route that aims to become an alternative to the long-established northern route through Russia, Davitashvili said it was “important” for the Middle Corridor to “maintain long-term competitiveness”.

Speaking at a meeting related to the international route in Tbilisi, he said to achieve the goal "our transport shipments should be comfortable [and] more attractive for international actors, so that the country receives additional revenue". 

"The importance of the Middle Corridor is particularly noteworthy in the current geopolitical situation, when cargo traffic in the corridor has increased, and the interest of international carriers is growing every year”, Davitashvili noted.

Photo: ministry of economy

“We believe that with improved transport infrastructure - including administration - we will be able to sustain freight in the Middle Corridor in the long term", he added in his comments.

The meeting of the Trans-Caspian international route - another term for the Middle Corridor - was held for the second time in Georgia and involved officials from railway companies of Georgia, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Türkiye - the states involved in the project.