Trade and Transport Along the Middle Corridor: World Bank Assessment and Recommendations

The Middle Corridor (also known as the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route) linking the regions of Central Asia and the South Caucasus with each other and with Chinese and European markets has inspired many hopes. It is expected to enhance trade and connectivity for the countries of the region, boos economic diversification, and reduce dependency on traditional routes. However, apart from enthusiasm, the Middle Corridor project raises many questions about its feasibility and prospects. The new World Bank report "Middle Trade and Transport Corridor – Policies and Investments to Triple Freight Volumes and Halve Travel Time by 2030" tackles these important questions. It argues that with the right policies the Middle Corridor can boost regional trade, provide resilience and route diversification for the China-Europe container trade, and shield countries and supply chains from geopolitical shocks. The report puts forward recommendations that can help this multimodal rail and maritime corridor transform into a vital and dependable route.