BRUSSELS: The European Union recognizes Turkmenistan as a pivotal player in advancing transport connectivity between Asia and Europe, particularly via the Trans-Caspian Transport Route (TITR), also known as the Middle Corridor, according to the European Commission’s press office. The EU highlights Turkmenistan’s strategic geographic importance within this corridor, which links China to the Caspian Sea.
According to Trend News Agency, the EU perceives the TITR as a highly significant route amid shifting geopolitical dynamics. This route is evolving into a modern, multimodal economic gateway with considerable potential for regional integration and economic expansion. The European Commission’s spokesperson noted that the importance of the TITR is already demonstrated by the increase in transport volumes; in 2022, the EU accounted for over half of the surge in exports from Central Asia. Furthermore, cargo transport on the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route rose by 88 percent in the first nine months of
2023, reaching two million tons, with trade along the route expected to triple by 2030.
The EU’s strategy to enhance connectivity in Central Asia involves a regional approach and collaboration among the five Central Asian nations. A key takeaway from the EU’s 2022 study on sustainable transport connectivity was the necessity of improving interconnectivity among these nations to fully capitalize on increased cargo flows and drive sustainable economic growth. The recently established coordination platform for the Trans-Caspian Transport Route aims to facilitate progress on infrastructure priority projects, according to the European Commission’s press office.
Additionally, the EU plans to implement a new regional transport program for Central Asia by the end of 2024. This initiative seeks to provide technical assistance for regulatory reforms, customs harmonization, safety standards, and logistics coordination, which are essential for improving “soft connectivity” and complementing physical infrastructure inve
stments. By addressing these soft connectivity challenges and supporting infrastructure investments, the program aims to enhance regional trade and reduce land transport times between Asia and Europe sustainably. This effort is further supported by the Central Asia Prosperity Program, adopted in 2023, which focuses on trade facilitation and the digitalization of transport documents in the region.
Through these measures, the EU aims to bolster Turkmenistan’s strategic role as a transport hub, unlocking new trade opportunities and fostering regional prosperity between Asia and Europe. The Trans-Caspian Transport Route connects container rail freight networks between China and the EU, traversing Central Asia, the Caucasus, Trkiye, and Eastern Europe. It integrates ferry terminals on the Caspian and Black Seas with railway systems in China, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Trkiye, Ukraine, and Poland. This multilateral, multimodal route enhances cargo traffic between China and Trkiye and European countries, redu
cing transit times with freight trains completing the journey in an average of 20-25 days.