BAKU—The Baku-Tbilisi-Kars (BTK) railway is increasingly becoming a pivotal hub for ports in Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan, facilitating vital cargo connections across Central Asia, the Caucasus, and Europe. This strategic role was highlighted by Natig Jafarov, CEO of Alliance Multimodal, during a session at the Black and Caspian Freight Forum 2024.

According to Trend News Agency, Jafarov emphasized the railway’s growing significance in regional trade dynamics. “BTK continues to strengthen its position as a strategic transport hub and is already a key connection point for the ports of Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan. The railway route serves as a crucial link for cargo transit between Central Asia, the Caucasus, and Europe. BTK is an essential junction connecting key Caspian Sea ports with global markets,” he explained.

The recent modernization efforts on the BTK route have notably increased its capacity, elevating the annual cargo handling from one million to five million tons. This significant upgrade, primarily focusing on the segments running through Azerbaijan and Georgia, is poised to further boost the route’s capacity as forthcoming developments in Turkey are expected to enhance cargo volumes, reinforcing BTK’s role in international trade.