The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Turkish conglomerate Arkas Holding have agreed on a $40 million loan to enhance Türkiye's maritime logistics infrastructure and network resilience.

According to ADB, that the investment is the bank's first private infrastructure transaction in the country since it launched operations there in October 2025, The Caspian Post reports, citing Report.

The funds will support Arkas Group's eight-year capital investment program. The program includes renewing the maritime fleet, expanding logistics capacity and developing port infrastructure.

The measures are expected to boost trade flows, create new jobs and positively affect economic growth by improving the efficiency and resilience of key shipping routes in the Black Sea and Mediterranean corridors.

"Cooperation with a major and diversified logistics holding is crucial for our first infrastructure investment in Türkiye. This partnership is in line with the ADB's strategic priorities - mobilizing private capital in leading economies to strengthen trade competitiveness and deepen regional connectivity along the Middle Corridor linking Asia and Europe," said Leah Gutierrez, ADB director general for Central and West Asia.

The Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, or Middle Corridor, is an international transport route connecting China with European countries through Kazakhstan, the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan and Georgia. The association provides the necessary information support, helps simplify administrative barriers, create competitive conditions and achieve maximum efficiency for participants from various countries, including those not geographically located directly on the TITR route.

According to statistics from Kazakhstan's Ministry of Transport, cargo volumes along the route have shown steady positive dynamics: 759,000 tons were transported in 2019, 783,000 tons in 2020, 586,000 tons in 2021, 1.485 million tons in 2022, 2.764 million tons in 2023 and 4.484 million tons in 2024.

According to the Organization of Turkic States (OTS), the volume of cargo transported via the Middle Corridor amounted to 4.7 million tons in 2025, and is expected to increase by another 10% by 2027. By 2027, the Middle Corridor's capacity could reach 10 million tons annually, strengthening Azerbaijan's transit potential and opening opportunities to attract additional investment in infrastructure projects.

The target for cargo transportation through the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route by 2030 has been set at 11.4 million tons.