Kazakhstan’s Almaty Forum Yields Key Agreements to Strengthen Trans-Caspian Trade Route

Representatives of the Trans‑Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), also known as the Middle Corridor, have signed a series of key agreements during the New Silk Way forum in Almaty, Kazakhstan, aimed at accelerating the development of this critical transport link between Asia and Europe.

The high-level signing ceremony brought together senior officials from participating nations, including Nurlan Sauranbayev, Minister of Transport of Kazakhstan; Abdulkadir Uraloğlu, Minister of Transport and Infrastructure of Türkiye; Rahman Hummatov, Deputy Minister of Digital Development and Transport of Azerbaijan; and Genadi Arveladze, Deputy Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia, The Caspian Post informs via the Kazakh Transport Ministry.

Among the highlights of the forum was the adoption of a Joint Action Plan to eliminate bottlenecks along the TITR, outlining coordinated efforts among the railway authorities of Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and Georgia. The plan aims to streamline logistics and improve the efficiency of freight movement across the corridor.

In addition, a financing agreement was signed between the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and JSC Aktau International Sea Trade Port to support infrastructure upgrades, including the purchase of state-of-the-art Ship-to-Shore (STS) cranes - a move expected to significantly boost port capacity and cargo handling capabilities.

Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Transport emphasized that the agreements are designed to deepen regional cooperation, ensure seamless cargo transit, and elevate the Middle Corridor’s role in global supply chains.

"The adopted measures will reinforce the corridor’s status as a vital element in regional development and global logistics," the ministry stated.

Officials also reaffirmed the strategic importance of the Middle Corridor as a key alternative route for East-West trade, particularly in the context of shifting geopolitical dynamics. Discussions at the forum included proposals for enhancing transport interconnectivity, expanding trade partnerships, and increasing the competitiveness of the route on the international stage.

The Middle Corridor is gaining traction as a viable transit alternative connecting China to Europe via Central Asia, the Caspian Sea, the South Caucasus, and Türkiye - bypassing traditional northern routes and offering reduced transit times and improved reliability.