Author: Jean George – 09/04/2025
“Middle Corridor” – a new key hub for Central Asia
The independent discussion platform Apéro Géopolitique, together with the Swiss UMEF University of Applied Sciences Institute, held a conference in Geneva on March 28 on Central Asia, arousing particular interest among the public: diplomats, analysts, intellectuals. In addition to the main content of the discussion (link to article), it is interesting to expand the knowledge about economically important projects being implemented in the region. First of all, it is the rapid construction of the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor, also called the “Middle Corridor”.
A strategic center of the multipolar world?
Since ancient times, Central Asia has been a strategic crossroads: it formed the most important axis of the Silk Road linking China, India, Persia, the Arab-Muslim world and Europe. Even Alexander the Great realized the geopolitical significance of this land as a turning point between empires. However, with the Great Discoveries and the development of sea routes in the 15th and 16th centuries, Europe detached itself from this continental axis, marginalizing Central Asia.
During his speech, Hicheme Lehmici, a geopolitical expert and lecturer at SWISS UMEF University of Applied Sciences Institute, emphasized: “today, the irony of history is that this ancient center, long peripheral, is reconnecting with its past, once again becoming the center of connections within the new Eurasian routes: railway corridors, pipelines, digital cables. The ambitions of Russia, China, Turkey, Europe, Iran and India intersect here again”. According to the analyst, if Central Asian states strengthen their sovereignty, invest in youth, develop independent, multi-vector diplomacy and integrate into Eurasian flows in a balanced way, the region could once again become the strategic “heart” of a multipolar world. “It will not be a battlefield or a simple buffer zone, but a crossroads of stability, innovation, civilizational dialogue and geo-economic foresight,” – Hicheme Lehmici is convinced.
Kazakhstan as a leader in Central Asia
Kazakhstan is the largest country in Central Asia with vast natural resources: oil, gas and critical important minerals. With a diversified economy, the country leads in regional trade and energy exports. For critical minerals, Kazakhstan is also the obvious leader in the region. Logically, the idea of building the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor, was an initiative of Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey, which the government of Kazakhstan is actively promoting and implementing to ensure diversification of export routes.
“The Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor is part of China’s global ‘One Belt, One Road’ initiative. It connects China with Europe via Kazakhstan, the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkey and Southeast Europe. This multimodal transportation route (sea, rail and road) is designed to facilitate the transportation of goods between Asia and Europe, bypassing Russia. It is faster than the sea route through the Suez Canal – 12-15 days versus 30-40 days – and also politically safer as it bypasses Russia and sensitive straits,” – analyst Hicheme Lehmici said.
Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor
Construction of the Middle Corridor is progressing well. To eliminate infrastructure constraints and improve the efficiency of transit transportation, Kazakhstan has started construction of its own port terminal in Poti, Georgia, in 2025. The project is being implemented within the framework of the Road Map 2022-2027 adopted by Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan and Turkey, and is aimed at developing the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor (TCTC). To increase the volume of cargo transportation and reduce transit time, Kazakhstan has acquired its own dry cargo ships. All this will strengthen Kazakhstan’s position as a key transit hub in the Eurasian region.
Also, to increase the growth of container transportation on the PRC-EU route along the “Middle Corridor” between Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and China, an agreement was signed on the establishment of an intermodal cargo terminal in the seaport of Alyat (Azerbaijan).
In 2024, as part of the Digital Corridor project, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and China automated the process of declaring customs transit of cargo, which significantly improved the efficiency of transit transportation between Asia and Europe. This project was an important step in the digital transformation of this industry, contributing to the creation of a high-tech transit corridor that increases the competitiveness of the TCTC.
In 2025, Kazakhstan plans to implement a number of key infrastructure projects, such as the completion of construction of second tracks on the Dostyk-Moyinty railway section, which will increase the capacity of transit traffic and the volume of cargo traffic in the China-Europe direction; together with Chinese partners, it is planned to build and commission a container hub in the city of Aktau. It will become an important link in the development of international multimodal transportation and strengthen Kazakhstan’s position as a transit center at the intersection of major trade routes.
By 2030, Kazakhstan plans to increase the efficiency and competitiveness of the Middle Corridor. Measures taken by the Trans-Caspian Corridor member countries to modernize their own infrastructure create favorable conditions for attracting investment and interest of major foreign transport players to use its potential. “This rapid development of the Middle Corridor and the redistribution of trade flows strengthens the geo-economic role of Central Asia, allowing it to transform from a mere transit zone into a structuring player in multipolar globalization,” – geopolitical expert Hicheme Lehmici is convinced.