New york: Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev addressed the participants of the 6th Caspian Business Forum in New York, focusing on the theme “Along the Middle Corridor: Connectivity, Finance and Energy”.
According to Azeri-Press News Agency, the address was delivered by Hikmat Hajiyev, Assistant to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan – Head of the Department for Foreign Policy Issues of the Presidential Administration of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
During the forum, President Aliyev emphasized the strategic significance of the Middle Corridor, a project connecting Europe and Asia through the Caspian Sea, serving as an efficient route for cargo transportation. He highlighted Azerbaijan’s pivotal geographic location, which allows the country to play a critical role in enhancing connectivity between two continents. Azerbaijan’s long-term vision and efforts have enabled the full commissioning of the Middle Corridor, underpinned by the nation’s economic potential, political stability, and security.
President Aliyev noted the substantial investments made in transport infrastructure along the Middle Corridor, including the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway, Baku International Sea Trade Port, and the Caspian cargo fleet. These developments have contributed to a 90 percent growth in cargo shipments through Azerbaijan over the past three years and significant reductions in transit times. Future projections estimate a tripling of freight capacity by 2030, with transit times halving.
A significant development highlighted in the address was the Joint Declaration signed on August 8 in Washington between Azerbaijan and Armenia, witnessed by U.S. President Donald Trump. This declaration established the ‘Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity’ (TRIPP), a key transport link expected to expand the Middle Corridor’s capacity and contribute to regional prosperity and global supply chain integration.
The address also pointed to the potential of TRIPP in transporting energy resources, exporting renewable energy, and installing fiber-optic lines, transforming the region into an international trade and digital communications hub. President Aliyev expressed confidence that the Middle Corridor would drive regional economic growth and integration, fostering stability and prosperity.
Concluding his address, President Aliyev expressed his best wishes for the success of the forum, anticipating a productive exchange of ideas and new initiatives centered on the Middle Corridor and its opportunities.