The Middle Corridor is one of the key pillars of cooperation between Azerbaijan and the Central Asian countries, Adviser to the Minister of Economy Taleh Ziyadov said during the panel discussion titled “Azerbaijan at the Center of South Caucasus–Central Asia Strategic Partnerships: A Key Driver of Regional Cooperation” held as part of the 2nd Azerbaijan International Investment Forum, APA reports.
He said that work on Trans-Caspian connectivity has been underway for more than a decade: “Baku has a port with an annual cargo handling capacity of 15 million tons, and expansion work is underway to increase this capacity to 25 million tons.”
According to Taleh Ziyadov, the development of transport infrastructure in the region creates new connections and opportunities for business: “Energy, digital connectivity, and investment will be the key pillars of regional cooperation. Harmonizing border and customs procedures, as well as tariffs, is important for the efficient operation of the Middle Corridor.”
He noted that trade turnover between Azerbaijan and the Central Asian countries increased by 53% in 2025 compared to the previous year, reaching approximately $1.8 billion: “There are significant opportunities to expand this further, and Azerbaijan is working on this individually with each of these countries. Investment cooperation plays an important role in the development of regional economic ties. Azerbaijan has established bilateral investment mechanisms with Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Tajikistan. Experience shows that these create interesting platforms and opportunities for bilateral and joint investments in our region.”
Taleh Ziyadov emphasized that, alongside infrastructure, mutual trust and a predictable investment environment are also important for sustainable regional integration.
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