1. Context
The global transport landscape is undergoing a structural transformation. In recent years, supply chains have faced unprecedented disruptions triggered by pandemics, geopolitical tensions, extreme weather events, and infrastructure vulnerabilities. These shocks have demonstrated that efficiency without resilience creates systemic fragility.
Against this backdrop, alternative and diversified transport corridors have gained renewed strategic relevance. Among them, the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route - Middle Corridor has emerged as a vital connectivity axis linking Asia and Europe via Central Asia, the Caspian Sea, the South Caucasus, and onward to European markets, overlapping in part with Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) Program Corridor 2.
The Middle Corridor is no longer viewed solely as a contingency alternative. It is increasingly positioned as a commercially viable, strategically important, and geopolitically stabilising route capable of strengthening economic interdependence across regions.
The 2026 ITF Summit theme, “Funding Resilient Transport,” provides a timely opportunity to examine how investment, policy coordination, and international cooperation can unlock the corridor’s full potential.
2. Objectives of the Session
This Presidency session aims to:
• Examine the growing strategic importance of the Middle Corridor in global trade architecture.
• Explore financing models for resilient and multimodal corridor development.
• Discuss how digitalisation, regulatory harmonisation, and operational coordination can enhance competitiveness.
• Position the Middle Corridor within broader global efforts to diversify supply chains and reduce systemic risks.
• Foster dialogue between governments, multilateral development banks, international organisations, and private sector actors.
3. Strategic Alignment with the ITF Presidency Priorities
This session directly supports Azerbaijan’s Presidency priorities:
• Reinforcing international transport connectivity;
• Strengthening resilience across borders and modes;
• Promoting knowledge exchange and multilateral cooperation;
By convening governments, development banks, international organisations, and industry leaders, the Presidency aims to elevate the Middle Corridor discussion from regional ambition to global strategic agenda.
