Building the China–Europe railway connection, the Middle Corridor, is not only a question of laying tracks. Terminals and transshipment facilities are just as important to make the logistics chain work. For that reason, Caucasus countries are gearing up for new terminal infrastructure projects.
An entirely new terminal has been added to the logistics agenda in Georgia. During a Turkmen state visit to the capital city Tbilisi, the Georgian prime minister and Turkmenistan’s president discussed the construction of such a facility.
Turkmenistan is reportedly interested in investing in a terminal on Georgia’s Black Sea coast. Negotiations with Georgia are underway, but no details on the project have been disclosed as of yet.
The Caucasian Black Sea coast is a key location for east–west freight traffic. From here, goods are shipped across the sea towards the EU and Ukraine’s Odesa port. It is one of two possible routes to reach Europe from the Caucasus region, with the other one being an overland route through Turkiye.
It is therefore no surprise that Turkmenistan wants to have a stake in logistics at such a strategic location. Earlier, the Central Asian nation also decided to modernise the majority of its railway infrastructure. This move is likely aimed at positioning the country favourably for growing Middle Corridor traffic.
The Caspian region
On the other side of the Caucasus region lies the Caspian Sea. Here, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan are at an advanced planning stage for a new terminal at the Alat port. Similarly to Georgia’s Black Sea coast, Azerbaijan’s Caspian coast represents a key node on the Middle Corridor. Port facilities here allow freight to cross to and from Central Asia and, by extension, China.
During a recent meeting, the Kazakh ambassador to Azerbaijan noted that a 2024 agreement to develop a joint intermodal terminal at Alat port is moving forward. The master development plan for Baku Port is now nearing completion. In other words, both sides are expecting construction efforts for the new facility to start soon.
