Navigating the Pathway: Stepping Stones from Aspirations to Achievements
The Middle Corridor, a revival of the ancient Silk Road, is emerging as a critical infrastructure project in Eurasia. This trade artery, connecting China to Europe through Central Asia, the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Turkey, is poised to expand east-west links, transforming the region into a hub for both goods and energy.
The corridors of tomorrow, it seems, will not be chosen solely by geography. Instead, they will be selected based on trust, cooperation, and vision. This is evident in the Middle Corridor, where countries like Turkey, Azerbaijan, and others in the region are investing heavily in the construction of ports, railways, and border crossings to secure its future as a key artery of Eurasian trade.
Turkey, for instance, is building a railway connection to Azerbaijan worth 2.4 billion euros, while Poland is involved with the Euroterminals Chełm and Dorohusk at the Ukraine border, serving as natural gateways to the Middle Corridor.
Azerbaijan's role in this project is not just as a crossing point, but as a central player in Eurasia's economic integration. However, challenges remain, particularly in customs alignment and digitalization. Despite these hurdles, the World Bank forecasts that trade between China and the European Union will rise by 30% by 2030, with westbound flows accounting for 62% of the total.
The Middle Corridor currently offers a 12-day journey over 7,000 kilometres, with a capacity of around six million tonnes a year. With upgrades, this capacity could almost double by 2030. The route bypasses both Russia and Iran, giving it renewed strategic weight in the current geopolitical climate.
The Middle Corridor could either remain a niche alternative or evolve into a major artery of Eurasian trade. Its future is being heavily contested in the competition for future trade routes. India, for example, is pushing to establish its own corridor to Europe, highlighting the race for influence over global supply chains.
The question is not only who builds the routes of tomorrow but whose route the world will choose to follow. The Middle Corridor's success will depend on innovations and breakthroughs in digitalized logistics, green infrastructure, and new geopolitical alignments. If achieved, it could see countries like Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Kazakhstan seeing their trade with the EU grow by nearly a third, driven by exports and improved connectivity.
In conclusion, the Middle Corridor is more than just a trade route. It is a symbol of cooperation and integration in Eurasia, a testament to the power of vision and investment in shaping the future of global trade.
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