Baku: The success of the Middle Corridor will be measured not only by cargo volume but also by the economic value it creates, Ramazan Erdag, Head of the Center for Strategic Research at Trkiye's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated at the 2nd International Conference of Leading National Think Tanks of the Organization of Turkic States held in Baku.

According to Azeri-Press News Agency, Erdag highlighted the increased need for secure and efficient connectivity between Asia and Europe, noting that the Trans-Caspian East-West Middle Corridor offers significant opportunities in this regard. He emphasized that the strategic importance of the Middle Corridor should be assessed not only by the volume of cargo transported but also by the economic value it generates in the region.

Erdag pointed out that the next stage of development requires a shift from a transit-based approach to the creation of regional value chains. He explained that successful corridors are those that not only transport containers swiftly but also transform economic geography. The focus should be on how many companies join the supply chain, the number of jobs created, and the added value generated.

He further stressed the importance of unified management, digital customs systems, joint infrastructure financing, and the establishment of industrial and logistics clusters for the development of the Middle Corridor. Erdag noted that if infrastructure, digital systems, and regional production networks are integrated, the Middle Corridor could evolve into not just a transport route between East and West but also a foundation of economic development for the Turkic world.