DOI: https://doi.org/10.36719/2789-6919/49/104-109
Mukhtar Khayal Mammadov
Nakhchivan State University
Bachelor
https://orcid.org/0009-0000-6538-498X
muxtarmammadov@ndu.edu.az
The İmportance of the Middle Corridor in İnternational Trade and Logistics
Abstract
The Middle Corridor is a multimodal transport and logistics route in the Eurasian region, starting in China and extending through Kazakhstan, the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan, Georgia to Turkey and further to European markets. This corridor is based on a complex infrastructure system that combines sea, railway and road routes. One of the main advantages of the Middle Corridor is less political and geopolitical danger compared to the Northern Corridor. At the same time, this route significantly reduces transportation time and accelerates trade processes. Azerbaijan has become an important transit hub in this corridor. An important role in this process was played by the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway, the International Sea Trade Port of Ales, new automobile roads and the improvement of the customs system. According to data for 2022, the volume of cargo transportation along the Middle Corridor reached 1.5 million tons, which indicates the growth of the logistics potential of the region. However, there are also problems in the area of trans-Caspian transportation, such as a shortage of vessels, tariff discrepancies and procedural delays. To further increase the efficiency of this route in the future, the use of digital logistics, coordination of actions between the countries of the region and constant development of infrastructure are necessary. "Middle Corridor" can play a strategic role in the future transport model of Eurasia not only economically, but also geopolitically.
Keywords: middle corridor, international trade, logistics, railway Baku-Tbilisi-Kars, multimodal transportation, transit role of Azerbaijan, infrastructure and investments