BAKU—Global shipping giant Maersk is intensifying its efforts to develop the Middle Corridor as a pivotal transit route, according to remarks made by the company’s Central Asia and Caucasus Region Business Development Manager, Irakli Danelia, at the “International Transport Corridors in the Black and Caspian Sea Region” session during the Black and Caspian Freight Forum 2024.
According to Trend News Agency, Danelia outlined Maersk’s strategy for enhancing connectivity across the Caucasus, Central Asia, and through the Southern and Middle Corridors. “When it comes to these regions, we are concentrating on developing transit routes. However, it is important not to limit ourselves to their transit role—the markets in these countries are significant in their own right, considering the export-import flows connected with various parts of the world,” Danelia explained. Maersk aims to offer comprehensive global connectivity for Central Asia, providing direct rail links between China and countries like Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan, which supports container transport and bolsters export flows from Central Asia to China.
Furthermore, Danelia emphasized that Maersk is actively working to strengthen the links between the Caucasus and Central Asia with other global regions, including Europe, Africa, and America, through the Western Corridor. He highlighted the role of political support in the development of these transit corridors, which is crucial for addressing logistical challenges and facilitating seamless transportation.
The Middle Corridor serves as a critical link in the container rail freight transportation network that connects China with European Union countries via Central Asia, the Caucasus, Türkiye, and Eastern Europe. This multilateral multimodal transportation infrastructure connects ferry terminals of the Caspian and Black Seas with railway systems of multiple countries, facilitating increased cargo traffic between China, Türkiye, and Europe. The corridor’s efficiency is demonstrated by the average delivery time of 20-25 days for cargo from China to Europe, marking it as a significant advantage in international logistics.